The Countdown Begins: NA LCS Playoffs Just Weeks Away
The first split of the newly-franchised NA LCS is quickly coming to an end, with only a few weeks left in the Spring Split. As the regular season concludes, teams are scrambling to secure their spots in the playoffs.
With just two weeks remaining before the knockout stage begins, teams like the Golden Guardians, CLG, OpTic, FlyQuest, and TSM need to step up their game to keep their post-split dreams alive.
The most surprising team on the brink of missing the playoffs is TSM. Despite never missing an NA LCS finals appearance, their spot in the playoffs is uncomfortably close to slipping away.
Let’s take a look at five key thoughts heading into week seven of the NA LCS:
1) Every Team Has a Chance
While Cloud9 and Echo Fox seem to be the safest bets for the playoffs, recent upsets have revealed that anything can happen in the remaining weeks. TSM defeated Echo Fox, while 100 Thieves took down Cloud9. The Golden Guardians even managed to beat Team Liquid. This split is wide open, and teams at the bottom have the opportunity to exploit the weaknesses of those at the top.
2) The Return of the Mid Lane Carry Meta
TSM’s mid laner, Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg, struggled to adapt to the support-style mid lane meta. However, with the recent changes in the meta, including new damage-centric items and upcoming nerfs to certain champions, the mid lane carry meta is making a comeback. This plays to Bjergsen’s strengths, as he is known for his ability to hard carry. Keep an eye out for him unleashing his favorite champions on the big stage.
3) 100 Thieves: The Cleveland Cavaliers of the NA LCS
100 Thieves, financially backed by the same organization behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, share a familiar storyline this season. Like the Cavs, they started strong, faced synergy issues, and then showed signs of a comeback. If this script holds true, 100 Thieves could make a strong playoff run before potential disappointment. The same cannot be said for the struggling Golden Guardians.
4) The Baron + Banner of Command Combo
The recent patch introduced super-buffed Baron minions to speed up the game. However, the new combination of Baron minions and Banner of Command has proven to be incredibly frustrating for teams to deal with. These seemingly indestructible minions can quickly take down towers, making matches even more challenging. Get ready to see this strategy utilized frequently in North America.
5) Ties Galore in the NA LCS
Not ties as in neckties, but ties in the standings. Third place and seventh place are currently three-way ties, while ninth place is another tie. As the season comes to a close, these ties need to be broken. While teams tied for third are in a relatively safe position, they need to secure better seeds. This split has shown that the competition is fierce, with teams like OpTic and FlyQuest proving their ability to take wins off top teams. The time has come for teams to differentiate themselves from the pack.
NA LCS, playoffs, teams, split, Golden Guardians, CLG, OpTic, FlyQuest, TSM, surprises, Cloud9, Echo Fox, mid lane, meta, Bjergsen, 100 Thieves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Baron, Banner of Command, ties.
