This article is part of our DraftKings League of Legends series.
GAMES (EDT)
- 4:00 a.m: Gen.G vs. T1
- 5:00 a.m: FunPlus Phoenix vs. EDward Gaming
EDG vs. FPX
EDG got gifted the series against RNG, who punted their drafts in Games 1 and 2. RNG had complete control in Game 2 and then lost a baron and lost a team fight that they should have taken instead of disengaging. Xiaohu and XLB looked horrible all series, another reason RNG couldn't close out games. I give props to Aodi and JunJia for stepping, but the inconsistency falls in their objective game after getting first blood. They lead the league in first blood but sometimes can't translate it to something bigger. When you have JunJia over extending, Hope gets caught out in team fights, like we saw Thursday. FPX lost a tough series against TES last matchup, but it was very close in Game 1 and even in Game 2, where FPX were losing in kills and dragons but had a gold lead with their tower control. I wasn't a fan of going rakan/mf when there isn't much to protect MF or even any engages to start team fights, so they were handicapped before the match started. FPX have one of the better objective rates in the league, which is a nightmare for EDG because when they fall behind in turrets they force fights in situations that loses them games. FPX are not a pushover in team fights, as three players on FPX (Tian, Doinb, Crisp) hold a 60-70 percent KP, which tells
GAMES (EDT)
- 4:00 a.m: Gen.G vs. T1
- 5:00 a.m: FunPlus Phoenix vs. EDward Gaming
EDG vs. FPX
EDG got gifted the series against RNG, who punted their drafts in Games 1 and 2. RNG had complete control in Game 2 and then lost a baron and lost a team fight that they should have taken instead of disengaging. Xiaohu and XLB looked horrible all series, another reason RNG couldn't close out games. I give props to Aodi and JunJia for stepping, but the inconsistency falls in their objective game after getting first blood. They lead the league in first blood but sometimes can't translate it to something bigger. When you have JunJia over extending, Hope gets caught out in team fights, like we saw Thursday. FPX lost a tough series against TES last matchup, but it was very close in Game 1 and even in Game 2, where FPX were losing in kills and dragons but had a gold lead with their tower control. I wasn't a fan of going rakan/mf when there isn't much to protect MF or even any engages to start team fights, so they were handicapped before the match started. FPX have one of the better objective rates in the league, which is a nightmare for EDG because when they fall behind in turrets they force fights in situations that loses them games. FPX are not a pushover in team fights, as three players on FPX (Tian, Doinb, Crisp) hold a 60-70 percent KP, which tells you they are looking to fight, and looking to snowball from there.
Prediction: FPX 3-1
Bets: None
FPX Players to Target: Tian (JNG $7,000), Doinb (MID $7,600), LWX (ADC $7,800), Crisp (SUP $5,800)
Gen.G vs. T1
The finals between two teams that have been going at it all season is finally here, and this should be a great game. It is straight forward on the win condition for each team, as Gen.G's coaching staff has reverted back to their slow objective style the last half of the split, and this is not a good look in this meta. When you have a really good jungler who wants to roam and make plays around the map and you don't put him on a carry or early game champ, you are going to have a lot of issues when it comes to playing against the other jungler. Gen.G in previous years showed us the ability to play up-tempo in limited games, but every time they do that, they roll back into their shell and into their old style, and this is a big problem, especially against T1. I have said this on twitter on how coach Kim is a beast of a coach, and he has been criticized on some drafts early on, but he has coached nine teams, including six that made it to worlds. Through his team fighting draft he sets up his team for success, and the players on T1 are good enough to execute whatever champions they get put on. Tshese two teams are neck and neck in every statistical category, with Gen.G leading by just a hair, and the T1 stats are a little skewed with all the subs they had earlier in the split. My gut tells me T1 wins this series, as Canna looked so good against DragonX and the fact that T1 is ready to skirmish unlike Gen.G, who doesn't like to fight early, which makes me feel more comfortable that a team understands in this meta, team fighting is what wins you games.
Prediction: T1 3-1
Bets: None
T1 Players to Target: Canna (TOP $6,200), Faker (MID $7,200) Teddy ($7,600)
