Counter Logic Gaming

CMM 215: Social Media Is Not A Hivemind

Posted on by SonOfJan

But damn do people need to make up their minds.

After this Sunday’s NALCS finals between TSM and CLG, reddits was ablaze with opinions on the Doublelift vs. Stixxay argument.

Here are the facts:

  1. CLG parted ways with Doublelift before this split, citing it was best for team dynamic.
  2. Less than 24 hours later, TSM signed the star ad carry.
  3. CLG beat TSM 3-2 in the finals with Doublelifts replacement, Stixxay, out damaging his predecessor.

 

Now Reddit is in uproar. Saying Stixxay doesn’t deserve any credit for the victory, and how he didn’t contribute anything, save for the final team fight of the final game. (And yes apparently Reddit believes that sealing the deal for a finals victory, isn’t a big deal)

The fact of the matter is, you can frame anything anyway you want to. (Trust me, it’s how I’m able to convince people that I’m an asset to their lives.)

If TSM wins this series, you can bet that the hot topic would be how CLG was wrong for letting Doublelift go. Or, even better yet, they’d still be bashing Stixxay for not being better than who he replaced.

Yes, everyone is entititled to their opinions, but they shouldn’t let teenage fangirlisms blind them from the truth.

NA LCS Playoff Preview/Predictions

Posted on by SonOfJan

COUNTER LOGIC GAMING VS. TEAM LIQUID

CLG wins 3-1

This is a battle between two trash talking AD carries. Liquid comes into this match-up holding a 2-0 record over CLG this split, but Piglet didn’t play in either of those two games. Both teams need to win this series, but Doublelift has the most to prove.  A CLG loss concludes another late season collapse, as well as another failed split.

The duel between the AD carries might be the most highlighted match-up in this series, but it may very well come down to the two top laners.  Quas is looking to get out of a stretch of poor form, while ZIonSpartan is proving to be the best top laner CLG has ever had play for them. Zion can carry this series, but Quas playing at his best can shut him down. If Quas isn’t a factor, Liquid is going to get run out of the building.

CLG is simply better than Piglet’s Team Liquid on paper. However, CLG certainly has the tendency to freeze in these situations.  In my opinion, the break tradition and advanced to the semi finals. But unless they’ve drastically improved, that’s as far as they’re going in these playoffs. C9 and TSM are too strong.

TEAM IMPULSE VS. GRAVITY 

Team Impulse wins 3-2

Team Impulse is a better team than Gravity. But in a best of five series, Gravity has way too many unpredictable champion picks to be slept on. This may very well be a trap series for impulse, as they’ve played like a top 3 team at the end split. If they overlook Gravity, they’re going to be brought down to Earth extremely fast.

While Gravity may have some secret strategies in their back pocket during picks and bans, what Impulse has is Rush. Rush is the second best jungler in NA right now, and would be the best if it wasn’t for the current meta.  Rush wants to play a high impact carry champion, hell the man is doing whatever it takes to keep Lee Sin alive and kicking. But this current meta of tank junglers does not suit him well. On PTL this week, Jatt said that Rush’s solo queue record with Sejuani is something along the lines of 1-9.  That’s bad. Very bad. If Gravity can force Rush onto one of these tanks he’s uncomfortable with, they may be able to steal this series.

While I do think Gravity has the potential to win this series, I don’t think they’re going to be able to pull of three wins via cheeky shenanigans. Impulse has been on fire lately (The dig game was a trap game so we’re not talking about that).I expect them to take this series, but I don’t think it’s going to be a clean sweep. Expect a fun, five game battle, that may be the most entertaining series of the playoffs.