NA LCS Playoffs Day 1 Recap; Day 2 Preview
After eleven weeks of epic games, the North American LCS wrapped up its regular season in preparation for this weekend's playoffs. While XDG Gaming and Evil Geniuses fight to survive relegation, the rest of the NA LCS teams are battling for the coveted title of Regional Champions. Day 1's matches featured Counter Logic Gaming versus Team Coast and Team Curse versus Team Dignitas in the semifinals of the 2014 spring split playoffs.
Counter Logic Gaming vs. Team Coast
Game 1
Team Coast opened up with an invasion into the enemy red jungle. Unfortunately for them, CLG was more than ready as they pounced onto an unsuspecting Coast moving through the bush. Though nobody died in the skirmish, the failed invasion allowed CLG to seize control of the jungle. Dexter (Nocturne) snowballed his lead over NintendudeX (Xin Zhao) by taking three buffs while Doublelift (Lucian) and Aphromoo (Lulu) completely dominated the bottom lane with sheer confidence and aggression. At the thirteen-minute mark, Doublelift and Aphromoo were already ahead of WizFujiiN (Ezreal) and Daydreamin (Thresh) by a combined 1500 gold. With superior vision control, better teamwork and communication, CLG took objectives without much contest, including multiple dragons and Baron, and eventually all three of Team Coast's inhibitors due to their aggressive playmaking. Unable to defend the onslaught of damage from CLG, Team Coast conceded the first game.
Game 2
Early on, Dexter (Lee Sin) made moves to once again stifle NintendudeX's (Nocturne) Feral Flare by taking the Ancient Golem buff but leaving the smaller golems alive. With rapid rotations and constant lane swaps, CLG forced NintendudeX repeatedly from his own jungle, preventing him from farming his Feral Flare. NintendudeX fell further and further behind Dexter as the game progressed. After a skirmish in the middle lane, CLG aggressively pushed into the enemy base, taking down both the tower and the inhibitor turret, taking control of the map. CLG went on to take Baron and the rest of Coast's base for the victory.
Up Next For CLG: Team SoloMid
The current record between these old rivals stands at 3-1 in favor of TSM. However, as CLG has shown throughout the course of the 2014 spring split, they are more than capable of taking on top-tier teams thanks to their strong rotations and team fighting. All eyes will be on the bottom lane, where two of the most formidable duos in the league will go head-to-head.
Team Curse vs. Team Dignitas
Game 1
Dignitas pulled ahead early on with aggressive pushes, taking down several towers and gaining control of the map. As the game progressed, Dignitas refused to relent the pressure as they rotated all over the map, forcing more objectives with Curse at their heels. CruzertheBruzer (Jax), in particular, excelled in his role as he used teleport effectively to farm up minions, defend objectives when needed, or partake in battle with his teammates. Curse was eventually forced to concede the first game. Game 2
The game was incredibly close as team fights and objectives went back and forth constantly. Though Curse pulled ahead in kills, Dignitas boasted a slight gold advantage due to their superior objective control as they took turrets across the map. As the game progressed to its later stages, Quas (Jax) came out huge with precise Counter Strikes, followed up by mass amounts of damage augmented by Grandmaster's Might. Though Crumbz (Evelyn) stole the Baron in a last ditch effort to turn the game, he could not prevent Quas and the rest of Team Curse from ripping apart the Dignitas base.
Game 3
Even before the match began, the game appeared to be in Dignitas's favor as Curse locked in a low-damage team composition. While Dignitas managed to nearly ace Curse at the six-minute mark, they continued to make several mistakes as the game progressed, all of which added up to result into a disastrous mid to late game. Again and again, Curse chased down the members of Dignitas, extending their gold lead significantly. Curse made a final push through the bottom turret and inhibitor to finally take down the Nexus for the victory.
Up Next For Team Curse: Cloud 9
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The odds are in Cloud 9's favor as they boast an impression 4-0 record over Team Curse, who struggled to find their stride in the 2014 spring split. While Team Curse has demonstrated here and there that they are capable of innovative play and strong team fights, Cloud 9 is undeniably the most consistent team in the league.
, given that i've been playing him a lot recently.
