The LCS returns from their break and teams are ready for the final push to the Summer Playoffs! The biggest news from the break are the massive roster swaps surrounding Team Solomid. Their top laner, Huni, has stepped down because of injury but the bottom lane has also been swapped out. Over the last 11 weeks, this team has made 10 roster swaps with little to no impact on their positing. Will this be enough? Will other bottom teams follow suit? Who are the dogs we should watch? Let’s dive in and find out!

 

 

Game #1: 100 Thieves (-230) v Flyquest (+176)

Game Breakdown: This is a tale of two very different teams that play in a similar way. That sounds confusing but when you look at how each team wants to win you can see how different they are in their similarities. Both teams are driven by the carry potential in their bottom lane but how they get those ADCs online. 100 Thieves will approach the game in a way where they are funneling serious attention and resources into their bottom lane. They push the pace of the early game and force gold into FBI’s pocket. If 100 Thieves get early advantages, we see that they are better at closing out games. FlyQuest looks to slow down the game and give their bottom lane duo of Johnsun and Aphromoo time to reach critical mass. In this matchup I can see the veteran understanding of the game that Aphromoo especially brings should keep Johnsun safe through the early laning phase. If FLY can navigate through that early game pressure, there is a good chance that Josedeodo (jungle) can isolate FBI in teamfights and Johnsun can outdamage him. 

Favorite Picks: FBI (100: $11,400/$7,600), Ssumday (100: $6,400), Closer (100: $6,800) 

Value Picks: Johnsun (FLY: $7,000), Aphromoo (FLY: $5,000), Flyquest ($4,400)

Cann’s Match Pick: Flyquest   


Game #2: Dignitas (+300) v Evil Geniuses (-450)

Game Breakdown: This is a grossly mismatched game. Evil Geniuses have a tendancy to make games messy so I am not 100% comfortable that it will be a perfect win but I can be comfortable knowing that the carries from this team are going to eat. Danny has a league leading 37 kills and his mid-laner (jojopyun) has a KDA of 5.8. They are the most dominant team right now and a the glue that holds them together has been their imported jungler, Inspired. I love how Inspired is so clearly driving the game and keeping some really young and raw pieces in line and being productive. I loev EG players (even with their pricetags) for this slate. 

Favorite Picks: Danny (EG: $12,000/$8,000), Inspired (EG: $7,400), Vulcan (EG: $6,200)

Value Picks: Biofrost (DIG: $4,800)

Cann’s Match Pick: Evil Geniuses  


Game #3: Team SoloMid (+250) v Cloud9 (-350)

Game Breakdown: I think this is a sneaky pick for an upset. I wouldn’t outright pick C9 but if you are looking for a darkhorse for the day, Team Solomid is one to look at. Why? Two reasons and they are very different. The first reason is their own internal issues. While this seems counter-intuative, we have seen these types of events galvanize the struggling team and trap the favorite into a false sense of security. To that point, the second reason for doubting C9 is that we have seen more of of the flaws/growing pains with this newly formed roster. You have players in new roles and new pieces playing together on this lineup. I don’t think TSM is the better team but I do believe that you can definately see a scenario where they can take a win today. 

Favorite Picks: Fudge (C9: $6,200), Berserker (C9: $7,200), Zven (C9: $5,400)

Value Picks: Spica (TSM: $6,200), Maple (TSM: $6,400)

Cann’s Match Pick: Cloud9  


Game #4: Immortals (+171) v Counter Logic Gaming (-220)

Game Breakdown: Counter Logic Gaming has come back down to earth over the last few weeks as I predicted. They have a pretty clear playstyle which is a positive but you do wish they had more power in the solo lanes. That being said, Immortals have been a talking point this split because of how bad they are as a team. Lost (ADC) is one of the lowest scoring players in the LCS and PowerOfEvil’s passive play style is a liability when he is on a lineup with no aggressive pieces around him. Immortals are the best in the league at dying slowly but unfortunately sending a game to the later stages against a team who wants as much time as possible to pump up their ADC (Luger) is a terrible idea. This will look close for about half of the game and then you will undoubtedly watch the wheels fall off for Immortals. 

Favorite Picks: Luger (CLG: $11,100/$7,400), Poome (CLG: $5,600), Counter Logic Gaming ($5,000)

Value Picks: Kenvi (IMT: $5,600)

Cann’s Match Pick: Counter Logic Gaming  


Game #5: Team Liquid (-525) v Gold Guardians (+340)

Game Breakdown: This is another game I suspect could end up in an upset. Team Liquid has, without any doubt from any analyst, the most start-studded lineup that the LCS has ever seen. Players like Bwipo, CoreJJ, and Hans sama have had some of the greatest League of Legends successes on an international level. Bjergsen may be the most decorated North American player ever and Santorin has had stretches where he has been the standard for junglers in the LCS. All of this being said, they cannot find a consistent angle of play as a team. They are so disjointed in both draft and in game. Teams have found opportunities to beat them or push them to the very limit because their mid game teamplay is so poor. That being said, the two solo laners (Licorice and Ablazeolive) have high mechanical skill but take a lot of risks. If TL can put together a standard game and play as a team around Santorin and CoreJJ, they should be able to take advantage of the common GG mistakes. If they can’t, watch a lot of lineups get flipped on the last game of the day. 

Favorite Picks: Santorin (TL: $7,200), CoreJJ (TL: $6,000), Team Liquid ($5,800)

Value Picks: Licorice (GG: $5,000), Ablazeolive (GG: $6,000), Stixxay (GG: $6,200), 

Cann’s Match Pick: Team Liquid 

 

DraftKings Example Lineup

Captain (x1.5): Johnsun (FLY: $10,500)

Alternate: Palafox (CLG: $10,500)

Top: Dhokla (CLG: $5,800)

Jungle: Santorin (TL: $7,200)

Mid: jojopyun (EG: $7,600)

Alternate: toucouille (FLY: $6,600)

ADC: Danny (EG: $8,000)

Support: Poome (CLG: $5,600)

Team: Counter Logic Gaming ($5,000)

Alternate: FlyQuest ($4,400)

 


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