An Impressive Start for CLG in LCS Summer Split
Last weekend, CLG kicked off their LCS summer split with a flawless 2-0 record. They dominated Team Dignitas in their first match, not giving up a single turret. In their second win against Team Impulse, CLG showed resilience in the face of an aggressive early game and came out on top with excellent mid-game picks and objective control. It seems like CLG is back on track.
However, both critics and fans are exercising caution before declaring a new golden age for CLG. In the past, CLG struggled in the later parts of the split, failing to adapt to changing metas and allowing defeats to affect individual performances and team communication. The CLG staff and players are keeping their expectations reserved for this split, which is a smart decision.
A Stable Midlane?
The first major change CLG made was replacing Austin “Link” Shin with Eugene “Pobelter” Park in the midlane. While many may see this as an obvious upgrade, the statistical comparison of their performances during the NA LCS Spring Split indicates that there may not be a significant difference. Both players had similar effectiveness for their respective teams, with comparable numbers in Kill Participation and Death Participation. So, it is hard to argue that Pobelter is a significant upgrade. However, if CLG wants to find better success this split, Pobelter needs to provide a stable midlane presence that Link did not possess.
Creating a Healthy Environment
The second change in the CLG organization was the removal of William “Scarra” Li as the coach and the introduction of Chris “Blurred Limes” Ehrenreich as the new head coach. This move is intriguing because CLG has appointed a head coach with an educational background and work experience in traditional sports coaching. Ehrenreich’s role as a head coach will focus more on facilitating team communication, managing egos, and promoting physical and personal health. This is especially important as CLG has experienced interpersonal rifts and breakdowns in communication in the past. Ehrenreich’s presence will prevent another CLG implosion by creating a healthy environment. Pobelter’s easy-going attitude will also benefit the team in this regard.
Golden Age? Probably Not
While CLG fans can expect a consistent roster this split, there are still areas that need improvement for CLG to become a championship-winning team. Their drafting and in-game strategy were questionable last split, and it will now depend on strategic coach Zikz to fix these issues. Furthermore, CLG needs to prove that they can win games from behind and perform well in team fights when the odds are against them, something that their rivals Team SoloMid excelled at last split. They also need to demonstrate their ability to win the daunting gauntlet for the third spot at Worlds, should they accrue enough championship points. CLG lacks the ability to perform under pressure, but with the proper building blocks in place, they have the potential to create a future Golden Age.
If you have any comments or questions about this article, feel free to leave a comment below or tweet me @Empyre19.
Stats provided by lolesports and OraclesElixir.com
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