LoL Grind Down: NA - Sunday, June 26th
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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Cloud9 vs. NRG Esports
| Cloud9 | NRG Esports | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Sprd | -375 |  | Vegas Sprd | +287 | |||||||
| Avg. Pts. | 13.7 | Avg. Pts. | 9.2 | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts./W | 17.7 | Avg. Pts./W | 18.6 | |||||||||
| FB% | 67% | 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 | Impact | Meteos | Jensen | Bunny Fufu | Sneaky | Players | Quas | Santorin | GBM | KiWiKiD | Ohq | |
| Opp. Season | 17.00% | 16.17% | 17.02% | 7.95% | 14.92% | Opp. Season | 22.42% | 16.04% | 18.15% | 25.40% | 12.82% | |
I’m going to forgive NRG for managing to lose to Phoenix1 in game two despite having had a lead of over 10,000 gold, because they’re not the first team to lose focus against the league’s worst team. On the whole, it was a dominating performance. Obviously, every team should defeat Phoenix1, but to significantly outplay them hasn’t been as easy as some teams might have expected. Quas’ performance was particularly strong, and given that he’s been playing at a much lower level than many believed he could, I’ve got one foot back on the train.
Cloud9 meanwhile absolutely destroyed Envy in a somewhat surprisingly easy series. Both Smoothie and Bunny FuFuu played and played well. There doesn’t seem to be any end in sight of the C9 support situations, so continue to ignore the position until we can reliably see one or the other take hold of the spot. I considered Smoothie a slight favorite coming into the day, and even that’s in question after Bunny was the player of the game in game two. For Sunday’s match, consider C9 both a heavy favorite to win and to win big. C9 are a fantasy friendly team and NRG isn’t good enough to compete just yet.
Cloud9
Elite Plays
Sneaky (DK $7,900, AD $8,600) – The play of the day on Saturday had to be Sneaky’s Penta Kill. In what appeared to be a losing fight, with his teammates being whittled away, Sneaky stepped up and dropped the entire other team nearly by himself. A Bjergsen and Sneaky combination, if it can be afforded, is how I’m going at my big spots.
Secondary Plays
Impact (DK $7,200, AD $7,900) – Impact has fit well into his new team without having yet had that single big moment just yet. Be there when it does.
NRG Esports
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
GBM (DK $5,800, AD $7,300) – Early in the season it was actually Ohq who jumped out as the primary carry of NRG, but the stats have been evening out over the last couple of weeks, and GBM now leads the team in damage dealt by a significant amount.
Team Envy vs. TSM
| Team Envy | TSM | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Sprd | +207 |  | Vegas Sprd | -260 | |||||||
| Avg. Pts. | 18.6 | Avg. Pts. | 15.0 | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts./W | 20.1 | Avg. Pts./W | 17.8 | |||||||||
| FB% | 48% | FB% | 57% | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Seraph | Procxin | Ninja | Hakuho | LOD | Players | Hauntzer | Svenskeren | Bjergsen | Biofrost | Doublelift | |
| Opp. Season | -51.79% | -52.21% | -50.79% | -52.35% | -57.27% | Opp. Season | 25.73% | 26.29% | 32.80% | 42.81% | 43.24% | |
Lack of focus cost TSM at times in their Saturday series against Echo Fox. Multiple errant Baron plays resulted in game one going to Echo Fox and left TSM looking awfully frustrated on their way out of the studio. As one might expect, they did recover well enough to take both game two and three, though I came away questioning their mindset. TSM will still enter a heavy favorite against Envy and should be treated as such, but it’s rare for teams to look as good as TSM has for entire seasons, so a downturn wouldn’t be all too unexpected.
So the question then is, can Envy be the team that turns the tide on TSM? They have the talent. I see Envy as the “best of the rest” type of team. They’re unlikely to finish in the top two in the regular season, or to make a deep run in the playoffs, but are the one team that the average observer might not expect to win big matches that does in fact possess the ability to do so. Opponents of TSM’s aren’t typically very popular choices, so consider them a reasonable contrarian option in tournaments at low costs.
Team Envy
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
Seraph (DK $5,500, AD $7,300) – As a fantasy play, Seraph has disappointed to a degree over some of his recent games, but I wouldn’t stay away from him as a result. TSM and Hauntzer are very tough, but there’s some surprisingly strong upside here.
TSM
Elite Plays
Bjergsen (DK $7,700, AD $8,100) – Bjerg and Doublelift are generally fairly equal on most slates, but I’ll slide a slight edge to the Dane here laning against Ninja, who hasn’t been as good as hoped.
Secondary Plays
Svenskeren (DK $6,700, AD $7,500) – At relatively affordable prices, a jungler in a series which could go three games and be quite bloody, the favored jungler is going to be an easy go to for many.
Apex vs. Echo Fox
| Apex | Echo Fox | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Sprd | -230 |  | Vegas Sprd | +185 | |||||||
| Avg. Pts. | 12.3 | Avg. Pts. | 9.0 | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts./W | 20.1 | Avg. Pts./W | 17.4 | |||||||||
| FB% | 44% | FB% | 36% | |||||||||
| 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 | kfo | Hard | Froggen | Big | Keith | |
| Opp. Season | -43.88% | -41.30% | -44.13% | -44.30% | -40.16% | Opp. Season | -22.41% | -26.81% | -16.64% | -28.15% | -16.69% | |
After a surprising and impressive start to the season, Apex now finds themselves in 6th place, the last playoff spot. If they’re going to stay ahead of teams like NRG and CLG, matches against teams below them are must wins. A loss to Echo Fox here would put a serious dent into their hopes and I’m not going to be surprised if that’s exactly what happens. I haven’t bought into the Apex hype as much as some and am still wondering just when they may be utilize some of their bench players, notably Diamondprox. Echo Fox is still a poor team and Apex are a clear favorite, but I am sneakily suspicious that roster moves could happen here, so consider Apex tournament only.
We know where Echo Fox is and regardless of what happens on Sunday, this team is going nowhere fast without further changes. Expect major shakeup from this team after the season, provided they aren’t relegated.
Apex
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
Ray (DK $7,000, AD $7,600) – Ray’s over-aggression isn’t always the most welcome sight for Apex fans, but we’re all for it. Ray’s 64 deaths are among the highest in the league, but he also sports 62 kills and 87 assists. That play style doesn’t breed long term success and may be something to note come playoff time, but for now, we love it.
Echo Fox
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
Hard (DK $5,100, AD $6,700) – Your atypical punt play. Have at it, or not. I will be.
Froggen (DK $6,000, AD $) – Your atypical farming machine that was clearly sent from another planet to kill minions. Has got to be pissed after seeing how many minions Fnatic members killed back on Thursday, right?
Phoenix1 vs. Counter Logic Gaming
| Phoenix1 | Counter Logic Gaming | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Sprd | +391 |  | Vegas Sprd | -541 | |||||||
| Avg. Pts. | 9.4 | Avg. Pts. | 11.8 | |||||||||
| Avg. Pts./W | 26.0 | Avg. Pts./W | 16.5 | |||||||||
| FB% | 28% | FB% | 49% | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Zig | Zentinel | Slooshi | Gate | Mash | Players | Darshan | Xmithie | HuHi | Aphromoo | Stixxay | |
| Opp. Season | -60.22% | -58.47% | -53.03% | -53.92% | -56.63% | Opp. Season | 30.03% | 49.02% | 42.12% | 40.06% | 41.07% | |
Hello snoozefest, old friend. It makes me feel slightly bad to say that I think every single one of Phoenix1’s victories this season have been a result of their opponent either underestimating them or simply growing lazy throughout a game. CLG are the one team in the league that are generally mentally above all of the rest and should be prepared for this. CLG desperately needs to win, and would surely prefer to do so in crushing fashion. Expect this to be an easy win for CLG. I have very little faith in Phoenix1 in this series, and even if they do make it interesting, this is more likely to be a lower fantasy scoring series regardless.
Phoenix1
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
None. If you really want one, target Huhi with Pirean.
Counter Logic Gaming
Elite Plays
Stixxay (DK $8,200, AD $7,800) – If we had “Super Elite” category, Stixxay would be in it on AlphaDraft, where he is the third highest priced ADC. He’s still worth the price for upside and flood on both sites, but is a near must play on AlphaDraft.
Secondary Plays
Xmithie (DK $7,200, AD $7,600) – Hovering at 69% KP, 3.0 KDA and 20% gold share, Xmithie has pretty typical stats for a jungler across the board. That’s more than enough to sway me when his team is so likely to go 2-0.
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