LCS Power Rankings: Summer 2020 Preseason Team Power Rankings
By Josh Tyler
The Summer Split returns tomorrow, so we give our first LCS power rankings of the split!
8. Golden Guardians
Elo: 367
The only notable offseason move for GGS was acquiring mid laner Tanner “Damonte” Damonte to replace Greyson “Goldenglue” Gilmer. I think this move was certainly a positive one and I definitely think this team could be one where the sum of their parts is stronger than the individual players.
Ultimately, I’m still not fully sold on their bot lane, as Ian Victor “FBI” Huang and Choi “huhi” Jae-hyun will likely be their weak point for the entire team. This team really needs one more reliable carry to go along with top laner Kevin “Hauntzer” Yarnell and I’m not sure where that will be coming from (my best guess is their jungler, Can “Closer” Çelik).
7. 100 Thieves
Elo: 367
You might be shocked that I have the Thieves down this far, given that they actually finished tied for second in the Spring Split, but I think that strong finish was more due to other teams stumbling over themselves than the Thieves actually being good. In particular, this team is incredibly weak in the mid lane, as Tommy “ry0ma” Le has yet to show he’s worthy of the import slot. This team will probably end up being the “Ssumday and friends crew” as they again lean on top laner Kim “Ssumday” Chan-ho.
6. CLG
Elo: 372
I don’t know why, but I can’t let the feeling go that CLG just is not as bad of a team as they were last split. The pieces are clearly there with strong play from mid laner Eugene “Pobelter” Park and top laner Kim “Ruin” Hyeong-min. Even the bot lane, where I have the most questions, both players have a history of success in the past.
This team has one of the best coaches in North America as well, in Weldon Green, who was a Coach of the Year contender in Summer 2019 thanks to his turning CLG around. With all that talent and experience, I’m taking a leap that they will be better than their horrid showing in the spring and that will be enough to put them in playoff contention (especially if the level of play in NA remains as low as it was).