League of Legends LCS finals preview: Liquid vs. Cloud9 – why C9 is poised for an upset
By Josh Tyler
Prediction
A lot of people are thinking this will be a coronation for Team Liquid, but I’m not so sure. For sure, I think they can win games or this whole series through the bot lane, but I’m not quite as high on their solo laners or junglers as many others.
Licorice and Nisqy can both quite easily carry out of their lanes, and Svenskeren has been by far and away the best jungler at getting his carries ahead. I don’t think he should attack Jensen, as he’s shown a great ability to be an effective player even when behind. Ironically, I think he should focus more on attacking Impact.
Although Impact is known as the master of being able to absorb pressure, he’s also posted the most deaths and lowest KDA on his team in the playoffs. Those numbers, remember, came after he played against Huni, the top laner with the most deaths but who has proven himself to be quite the competent laner.
This series is probably going to come down to five games and there isn’t really any key champion that either team needs to focus on picking or banning away from the other. Liquid’s reliance on Sona+Taric/Tahm could be a position to exploit, but Cloud9 has shown the ability to play this strategy as well. Besides, if I was Reaperd, I would be trying to make sure that I got priority picks for my solo laners rather than band-aid my weakest point.
In the end, this series will be determined by which team makes the fewest mistakes. It might be blasphemy to say this, but after last weeks games I have less confidence in Liquid than I do in C9.
Prediction: Cloud9 wins 3-1
Next. 8 ways Riot can fix the Jungle role. dark