The Significance of NACS Playoffs
There is more at stake in the NACS playoffs than just the outcome of the games. Each team brings its own flavor, ideology, and stakes, adding an element to the NACS narrative that goes beyond the game itself.
Importance of the Semifinals
Winning the NACS final is not as important as winning the semifinal. The winner of the final gets some extra prize money and a more favorable spot in the promotion tournament. The first challenger seed has two chances to win a best-of-five against the bottom LCS teams to promote, while the second seed only has one. The semifinal, on the other hand, is make or break. If a team loses there, they’re out until the next split. The rematches of TDK vs. Ember and Apex vs. TLA, which were split 1-1 in week 5, are crucial from a storyline perspective.
The Significance of Playoffs
In my opinion, the playoffs have become much more meaningful and interesting to the overall NACS story than the regular season. The regular season only offers eight meaningful games per team in a solid but fundamentally unsatisfying best-of-two format. The playoffs, however, are all best-of-five, which is the way competitive League of Legends was meant to be played. It requires strategic flexibility, physical and mental fortitude, and a strong will-to-win. Here, the legacies and histories of these four teams are at stake. The dynamic of last split’s playoffs between Renegades and Coast, and the underdogs Cloud 9 Tempest and Team Imagine, represented a high point in Challenger history.
A Closer Look at the Teams
Team Liquid Academy: Team Liquid Academy’s campaign represents the sum of resources invested by owner Steve Arhancet. Their storming of the HTC Invitational and NACS Qualifier led many to believe it was about to pay off big time. However, the calling up of Dardoch and Matt to the main team affected their promotion chances. The remaining members of TLA are now fighting for independence and a chance at an exciting future.
Ember: After a shaky start, Ember recovered admirably and looked stronger and stronger along the way. Their philosophy of “better humans make better athletes” is at stake in these playoffs. Victory would validate their methodology, while defeat means waiting until at least 2017 for a chance at LCS.
Apex Gaming: Apex has been stable compared to other teams, making only one substitution after week 3. Their success can be attributed to their high average consistency in all phases of the game. A victory for Apex would be a victory for stable teams with a strong understanding of team composition and macro fundamentals.
Team Dragon Knights: TDK has faced many changes and challenges throughout the split. Their trade of Ninja and Seraph for Alex Ich raised eyebrows, but if they find success with their new roster, it might say more about the league’s ruleset than their abilities.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this series, which will take a closer look at the stories of key players from each team and the challenges they’ll face in upcoming matches.
esports, NACS playoffs, teams, semifinals, regular season, importance, significance, victory, defeat, challenges