LoL Grind Down: NA - Sunday, June 19th
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
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NRG Esports vs. TSM
| NRG Esports | TSM | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Sprd | +453 |  | Vegas Sprd | -650 | |||||||
| Avg. Pts. | 10.4 | Avg. Pts. | 14.7 | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts./W | 19.6 | Avg. Pts./W | 17.4 | |||||||||
| FB% | 40% | FB% | 52% | |||||||||
| 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 | Hauntzer | Svenskeren | Bjergsen | Biofrost | Doublelift | |
| Opp. Season | 27.86% | 20.04% | 23.13% | 29.01% | 17.68% | Opp. Season | 36.69% | 36.40% | 41.62% | 54.15% | 53.20% | |
NRG had a another improved, yet not enough, type of showing on Saturday against Team Liquid. The players the organization has decided to surround GBM with simply aren’t the improvement that they believed that they were. I do still believe in their ability to raise their game above where it has been this season, but it won’t likely happen against the league’s best team. I generally only dismiss very poor teams, which NRG really isn’t, however they simply aren’t in TSM’s league and should be treated as such when building lineups.
It isn’t surprising to see TSM at the top of the league, even having brought in a relatively unknown rookie support. What’s surprising is that support looks like one of the top in the NALCS, making plays and fitting right into the region’s top team like a seasoned pro. Biofrost is a star in the making and his play was a missing piece for TSM last season and has helped unlock his teammates true potential. Crazy as it seems, finishing the Spring Split the way they did and having Yellowstar bolt back to Europe may have been the best thing that could have happened, as now they look primed to make a run to the NA finals and potentially splash the big boys party at Worlds.
NRG Esports
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
GBM (DK $5,500, AD $7,400) – This is a price point play only. I am approaching this series as if it will be a 2-0 win for TSM, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a great player like GBM won’t be involved in enough kills to cover these prices in a best of three series, win or lose.
TSM
Elite Plays
Hauntzer (DK $7,400, AD $7,800) – This cost is far too high for what we would typically want to play for a top laner, even looking at how well Hauntzer has played this season. Lower ownership and potential for a pair of high kill wins bring Hauntzer squarely into consideration for me, even despite the high salary.
Secondary Plays
Svenskeren (DK $7,200, AD $7,500) – It’s not a secret that both Doublelift and Bjergsen will be targeted by many. Perhaps that’s why I am considering Hauntzer and Sven, who have nearly as much upside that their two carries do.
Apex vs. Cloud9
| Apex | Cloud9 | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Sprd | +236 |  | Vegas Sprd | -300 | |||||||
| Avg. Pts. | 12.3 | Avg. Pts. | 13.2 | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts./W | 20.6 | Avg. Pts./W | 17.1 | |||||||||
| FB% | 51% | FB% | 68% | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Ray | Shrimp | Keane | Xpecial | Apollo | Players | Impact | Meteos | Jensen | Bunny Fufu | Sneaky | |
| Opp. Season | -64.15% | -57.79% | -62.58% | -60.81% | -61.22% | Opp. Season | 16.95% | 18.68% | 15.30% | 10.75% | 16.75% | |
After escaping a possible loss to Phoenix1 in a game three on Saturday, Apex has given me continued worries about their consistency. The team’s 3-2 record to this point has them sitting inside the top six, but given the depth of the region this split, a drop seems probable. Considerations of bringing in the likes of Diamindprox are presumably something Apex will look to do sooner or later, which is always a concern when we consider choosing their players. I’ll still have to find a way to have at least some Apex exposure on this slate, even as a considerable underdog. Cloud9’s propensity to have bloody games is no secret, and it regularly feeds value to cheap opponents, like Apex.
C9 made their series against TSM on Friday competitive, which almost all you can expect of anyone with TSM rampaging across North America with ease. Doublelift even made comments regarding Cloud9’s use of their supports, which could potentially see Smoothie take over as the full time player. It’s tough to play either C9 support, so be wary when considering either, but given that I expect C9 to win and win big, everyone is in play.
Apex
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
Ray (DK $5,600, AD $7,200) – It’s fairly easy to expect Ray’s ownership to be significant. He’s come out of the gates this summer as a capable, flashy player and is being offered to us at very affordable prices. Very strong value play in cash games.
Cloud9
Elite Plays
Sneaky (DK $7,700, AD $8,200) – While Jensen tends to be most players go to Cloud9 damage dealer, Sneaky has sneakily had the better fantasy numbers this split. With nearly 30 more assists than Jensen, Sneaky’s higher KP is paying dividends.
Secondary Plays
Meteos (DK $6,600, AD $7,700) – With a First Blood rate of 57%, Meteos is the crux of Cloud9’s early game success. While his KP hovers just under 70%, it’s close enough to not be a concern for me.
Counter Logic Gaming vs. Team Envy
| Counter Logic Gaming | Team Envy | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Sprd |  | Vegas Sprd | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts. | 11.8 | Avg. Pts. | 18.5 | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts./W | 16.7 | Avg. Pts./W | 20.0 | |||||||||
| FB% | 51% | FB% | 30% | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Darshan | Xmithie | HuHi | Aphromoo | Stixxay | Players | Seraph | Procxin | Ninja | Hakuho | LOD | |
| Opp. Season | 38.32% | 53.56% | 50.85% | 46.41% | 47.39% | Opp. Season | -62.89% | -67.54% | -62.55% | -62.52% | -68.21% | |
This is the series which I am most intrigued by today. CLG’s Split has gone much more poorly than they would have imagined coming in, so yesterday’s stomp of Echo Fox should come as a much needed boost. Neither game against Echo Fox were close to the point that their fantasy success was heavily limited. That shouldn’t be the case against Envy, who are far too talented to be beaten in such a fashion. CLG defeated Echo Fox by a combined 20,000 gold despite neither game lasting to the 30:00 mark. That speaks to a return to their typical style of play in which they seek to control the map and their opponent more so than to engage in regular fights.
Envy may just force those fights to happen. Unlikely to out maneuver CLG in map play, Envy would be better served to seek engagements and look for individual and team outplays in fights. I’d guess that’s exactly what they will do, and that does increase upside for both teams. CLG’s play across the Rift is strong and doesn’t always allow for it, but Envy have a knack for making every game interesting.
Counter Logic Gaming
Elite Plays
Stixxay (DK $7,000, AD $7,700) – A CLG win is far from a lock against Envy, but Huhi is far too unreliable as a player to be my expensive carry. The discount is enough to get me onto Stixxay though, and I would be surprised if he didn’t post a strong score even if CLG is unable to beat Envy.
Secondary Plays
Team Envy
Elite Plays
Ninja (DK $7,000, AD $7,700) – It’s LOD who has been Envy’s big gun this season, but a matchup against Aphromoo in the bottom lane can be trouble. I’d generally consider Ninja and LOD fairly equally in most cases, so choosing the face off against Huhi rather than Aphromoo and Stixxay seems easy.
Secondary Plays
Seraph (DK $6,300, AD $7,200) – The difficulty of facing CLG, slumping or not, means that Seraph is more of a tournament play. His involvement in Envy’s game plan and terrific play in any top lane role will be a major part of Envy’s route to the playoffs. More importantly, when Envy has big fantasy games, Seraph is always a big factor.
Echo Fox vs. Immortals
| Echo Fox | Immortals | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Sprd |  | Vegas Sprd | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts. | 10.2 | Avg. Pts. | 13.5 | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts./W | 17.4 | Avg. Pts./W | 16.2 | |||||||||
| FB% | 39% | FB% | 54% | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | kfo | Hard | Froggen | Big | Keith | Players | Huni | Reignover | Pobelter | Adrian | WildTurtle | |
| Opp. Season | -16.39% | -21.86% | -10.22% | -23.19% | -9.48% | Opp. Season | 51.65% | 60.21% | 36.22% | 50.85% | 41.23% | |
Is it possible for a team to win in a 2-0 sweep and look more sloppy than Huni and Immortals did against Envy? Credit to Envy, who are a strong team, but Huni’s wild play in the second game of the series is just his latest moment that leaves one wondering just how good he really is. Often alone in the enemy base, Huni repeatedly did everything he could to leave his team in 4v5 situations, while he opted to die for no real reason other than he seemed to enjoy it. It lowers the trust that I have in Immortals as a team and as regular options in fantasy. That said, against Echo Fox, they are tough to avoid.
What makes Echo Fox a team that it’s hard not to target against? For one, they’ve managed to become worse, not better. Coming out of a tough Spring Split in which they were without their primary roster for several games, the belief was that this team would be ready to take it to the next level after showing signs of ability late last season. Instead, they sit ahead of only Phoenix1, and seem a step below every other team in the league. I still have to keep the faith to some degree because when I look at the likes of Froggen, KFO and Keith, all I see are players that belong in this league. If they belong, how are they performing so poorly? It could be coaching or any number of other reasons, but let’s hope they get it together soon.
Echo Fox
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
Froggen (DK $5,300, AD $7,400) – Immortals inability to close out games does suit Froggen’s style quite well. He’s more than happy to sit back, farm minions and allow his opponents to make the mistakes, which just might work in his favor against Immortals.
Immortals
Elite Plays
Reignover (DK $7,300) – Reignover is nearly always the safest route on Immortals. He generally leads his team by a significant amount in KP and even had more kills than WildTurtle coming into today’s series.
Secondary Plays
WildTurtle (DK $8,300, AD $7,900) – This is an especially strong play on AlphaDraft, where Turtle is $100 less than the jungler we just talked about. He had 12 kills in two games on Saturday and shouldn’t struggle to gain an early lead on Echo Fox.
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