LoL Grind Down: NA - Saturday, July 9th

by wazzu24 Last Updated 2016-07-10 03:06:24

Welcome to the RotoGrinders League of Legends Grind Down. In this all-encompassing preview of the upcoming LCS action, every game will be broken down statistically, with several key elements highlighted in our charts.

We provide Defense versus Position data for each team, along with the RotoGrinders original stat, Pace.

Every game is also broken down, providing an overview of the game and a selection of players to consider from each match

Note: As always, if you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use our DraftKings promo code and AlphaDraft promo code to receive the best perks in the industry.

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NRG vs. Apex

NRG							Apex
			Vegas Sprd		+118					Vegas Sprd		-143
			Avg. Pts.		10.4					Avg. Pts.		11.7
			Avg. Pts./W		18.3					Avg. Pts./W		20.8
			FB%		48%					FB%		40%
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks							Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks
DvP Rks	Top	Jng	Mid	Supp	ADC		DvP Rks	Top	Jng	Mid	Supp	ADC
Players	Quas	Santorin	GBM	KiWiKiD	Ohq		Players	Ray	Shrimp	Keane	Xpecial	Apollo
Opp. Season	16.53%	14.83%	18.87%	26.43%	14.17%		Opp. Season	-32.98%	-32.21%	-33.60%	-35.88%	-29.79%

A week six match between NRG and Apex wouldn’t normally be something to be excited for. This week though, records dictate that this is a very important match for both this season and going forward. NRG currently sits in 8th place, meaning they would enter the relegation tournament if the season ended now. Just a game ahead of them and in a tie for 6th is Apex, who have been slipping as of late. Most didn’t project Apex as a playoff team coming into the split, so if they want to beat expectations then this is a near must win. A loss here could continue Apex’s spiral toward the bottom three and possible relegation.

One side story worth mentioning is the sudden dismissal of Apex’s Challenger Series team. The earlier worries of players such as Diamondprox coming into the Apex LCS squad are now gone, but I do wonder if this change in house dynamic could be a distraction for this weekend’s series against NRG. Speaking of NRG, they’re right about where I expected them coming into the season. Some did see them as a potential playoff team, and this is their chance to make that a legitimate possibility. A loss all but locks them into the bottom three.

NRG

Elite Plays

Santorin (DK $5,600, AD $7,100) – For me, one of the easiest plays of the day. Santorin trails only part-time Cloud9 support Smoothie in KP in the entire league at 80%. Short of a complete Apex stomp, Santorin will smash value.

Secondary Plays

GBM (DK $6,600, AD $7,300) – NRG’s consistent inconsistency makes the extra salary to pay for one of their carries a tougher sell, but still viable in all formats.

Apex

Elite Plays

None.

Secondary Plays

Keane (DK $7,200, AD $8,000) – Even against GBM, Keane remains the top target on Apex. He is behind only Doublelift and Bjergsen in our weekly projections.

P1 vs. Echo Fox

P1							Echo Fox
			Vegas Sprd		+147					Vegas Sprd		-180
			Avg. Pts.							Avg. Pts.		8.6
			Avg. Pts./W							Avg. Pts./W		17.4
			FB%							FB%		41%
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks							Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks
DvP Rks	Top	Jng	Mid	Supp	ADC		DvP Rks	Top	Jng	Mid	Supp	ADC
Players							Players	kfo	Hard	Froggen	Big	Keith
Opp. Season							Opp. Season	-9.46%	-18.57%	-11.59%	-18.43%	-9.24%

Phoenix1 is on the board and just so happens to face the other truly weak team in the region in its next match, which has to have them feeling better than they have at any other point this season. Ultimately, the difference between finishing in 9th or 10th may not end up mattering as both teams are on the relegation path, but Phoenix1 winning twice in a row would surely be a boost to confidence. It’s disappointing that Echo Fox’s talented roster has simply been unable to perform anywhere close to expectations and is staring at a likely roster overhaul even if they survive relegation. All of this spells that a Phoenix1 win is more probable than it will ever be again. P1 continues to be a team with nothing to lose, while Echo Fox have already lost whatever it was that they had to lose.

P1

Elite Plays

Secondary Plays

Mash (DK $6,400, AD $7,500) – Solo Queue superstar Keith is, well, just that. His game has gone full stop in the tank on the LCS stage. Even Mash should not be afraid and even expect to win lane.

Echo Fox

Elite Plays

None.

Secondary Plays

Froggen (DK $7,600, AD $7,900) – This has to be looked at as a tournament play. At the end of the day, P1 is still one of the worst LCS teams of all time and targeting them remains in consideration even at lofty prices. It’s those lofty prices for Echo Fox players that means it’s more tournament than cash, even against P1.

TL vs. IMT

The two horse at the top of the NALCS have begun to separate themselves from the pack, which leaves us staring at matches like this one and wondering if Team Liquid really has a chance. If it were the end of the Spring Split, I’d have been inclined to say Liquid were a prime upset candidate against any highly rated opponent. The summer has been a different story and with legendary ADC Piglet now playing in the Challenger Series, Liquid just aren’t quite at that level. Liquid should be solidly in the playoffs and perhaps even in line for another 4th place finish, but knocking off Immortals or TSM is currently out of their reach.

The one thing that did seem to be haunting Immortals for a few weeks was poor late game shotcalling and reckless play from Huni. Last week, I thought their map play improved and while Huni will probably always be Huni, he’s too good of a player to worry about too much.

TL

Elite Plays

None.

Secondary Plays

Dardoch (DK $4,900) – Too expensive on AlphaDraft, but even cheaper than Santorin on DraftKings and worth punt consideration given his skill set.

IMT

Elite Plays

Huni (DK $7,200, AD $7,800) – In another class than lane opponent Lourlo and possesses the highest upside in the top lane almost every week.

Secondary Plays

Pobelter (DK $7,900, AD $8,300) – Pobelter is dealing more damage and sports a higher KP than fellow carry WildTurtle and should be your expensive Immortals damage dealer.

NV vs. CLG

Big opportunity here for CLG. An Apex loss and a CLG win would shake up the standings quite a bit, pushing CLG up closer toward Cloud9 and Saturday opponent Envy, while distancing the MSI finalists from the bottom of the table. CLG’s deficiencies have been exposed at times this season, but it would be wrong to count them out already. Just over half way into the season, they still sit in a tie for the last playoff spot. I see them in the playoffs and as dark of a horse as the previous Split’s champion can be.

Envy are a strong team though, and have been all season. Still, they aren’t all that more talented than a team like Echo Fox, and it’s been tough for me to see them as a threat to the league’s best teams. They don’t deserve to be compared to a weak team like Echo Fox, but I’ve yet to see Envy show enough to feel that they are truly North America’s third best team. Defeating CLG would certainly be tough to overlook should they do so.

NV

Elite Plays

None.

Secondary Plays

Seraph (DK $6,200, AD $7,700) – If you’re not paying up for Huni’s upside, Seraph sports a decent floor, even against the likes of Darshan and CLG.

CLG

Elite Plays

Stixxay (DK $7,200, AD $Stixxay) – Severely under-priced on AlphaDraft in particular. Envy are prone to fighting and Stixxay remains the carry, even with talk of Huhi being an improved version of himself.

Secondary Plays

Xmithie (DK $6,000, AD $7,200) – Steady as always, Xmithie is yet another jungler who remains a favorable cheap target, who should surpass greatly surpass his price in points.

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