League of Legends: LCK Week 7 team power ranking

5. Gen.G (19-13)

Although they are third in the standings in terms of series wins, Gen.G has the worst game win percentage of any team currently occupying a playoff spot (aka the top five teams in the standings). Among Gen.G’s many problems are their weak early game and long game times in wins, which is concerning going into the Gauntlet. Luckily for them, they’ll get a free win in Week 8, as they only have to play Jin Air.

4. Sandbox Gaming (19-12)

They lost their series this week, 2-1 to Damwon, and thus took a slight step back in the standings. In terms of series, they’re positioned quite strongly (currently in second place, a half-game ahead of Gen.G), but while Gen.G gets a cakewalk in Week 8, Sandbox faces Griffin and Kingzone. One thing that is quite concerning to me: for a team that has a decent early, mid, and late game rating, why is it that they have the longest average game time in their victories?

3. SKT Telecom T1 (15-11)

The prodigal sons, scorned after failing (aka not winning) at MSI, who started the season so poorly they were ranked the second-worst team in LCK as late as Week 3, SKT has reclaimed their rightful place. On the back of a 13-game win streak, punctuated by losing to Griffin in their series before ultimately prevailing 2-1, SKT is finally showing their true strength. They’ll get a chance to start a new win streak this week as they play bottom-dwellers Afreeca and Kingzone.

2. Griffin (19-11)

Griffin’s collapse is finally complete. Yes, they had an overall positive record on the week (taking a 2-0 over KT before losing 1-2 to SKT) but the damage has been done. Griffin is now tied with three other teams in terms of series wins for that final playoff spot.

In terms of raw statistics, yes, Griffin is still a cut above the rest. They have the second-fastest game time in their wins, the best kill-to-death ratio in the LCK, best percent of gold earned ratio, average the biggest gold difference at 15, and have the best early game ratio per Oracle’s Elixir. Their failures, unfortunately, have been in the mid/late game and vision control, two statistics that are inextricably linked. With only one game against Sandbox, Griffin needs to turn things around fast.

1. Damwon Gaming (22-11)

There’s a new sheriff in town, as Damwon Gaming finally stands alone at the top. Statistically, they are second only to Griffin in just about every category, except one respect. They are the inverse of Griffin.

While Damwon’s early game is nothing to write home about (they average only a 19g lead at 15 on average), their late game and vision control are immaculate. They close out games even quicker than Griffin, meaning the only real way to beat Damwon is to get ahead early. If they’re close at the end of laning phase, they’re going to run the game over.

Week 8 of LCK action returns on Thursday at 4:00 EST / 9:00 CET on Twitch.tv/LCK