The EU and NA LCS Summer Splits are part-way through week three. Every team has played at least four series, and most starting players have played six or more games on stage. The beginning-of-split grace period is coming to an end, and excuses, such as team synergy or a new meta, are no longer acceptable.
Mid-season roster changes and substitutions are shaking up the standings compared to the 2017 Spring Splits. Most of the mix-ups can be attributed to team and player improvements, but just like every split, some players are standing out as weak links. No player can take full responsibility for an under-performing team, but the players below definitely have some work cut out for them if their teams are to reach their maximum potential.
Jung “Impact” Eon-yeong/Jeon “Ray” Ji-won
Cloud9, Top laners
D%: Â Â 26.9%/23.5% Â (2nd-3rd highest overall)
CSD10:     -8.5/-11      (lowest top laners)
Something is obviously wrong with Cloud9’s top lane. Ray and Impact have both had their lulling periods in the past, but fans hoped those issues might be gone. Ray has had a full split to assimilate into the team, and Impact has been on the team a full year. Cloud9’s other members seem to be playing well, making this top lane duo a liability. Ray and Impact fall far behind in the early game and do not have the KDAs or damage per minute to justify such high death shares.
William “Meteos” Hartman/Rami “Inori” Charagh
Phoenix1, Junglers
KDA: Â Â 1.5/3.0 Â (lowest and 8th junglers)
DPM: Â Â 223/187 (9th and lowest junglers)
Another substituting duo that is struggling, Meteos and Inori, has uprooted P1’s entire team. Neither of these junglers has looked well-rounded. Inori brings fewer deaths, but also less damage and lower kill participation. Meteos has higher damage per minute and kill participation, but sacrifices a lot of deaths. In week three, P1 has decided to start Michael “MikeYeung” Yeung, indicating that he may be a better option right now.
Luka “Perkz” Perković
G2, Mid laner
XPD10: Â Â -507 Â (2nd lowest overall)
DPM: Â Â 511 Â Â Â (7th mid laner)
G2’s slow start is a bit of a conundrum. Despite minimal roster changes in Group A, Perkz has fallen in rank in almost every statistic. His KDA, damage, death share, and laning differentials are significantly worse than Spring Split. This is surprising considering how well Perkz performed at the Mid Season Invitational. Mid lane has some of the highest parity among EU LCS positions, so weakness here can inhibit G2’s success.
No “Arrow” Dong-hyeon
Phoenix1, Bot laner
DPM: Â Â 464 Â (3rd lowest bot laner)
CSD10: Â Â -5.8 Â Â Â (lowest bot laner)
Arrow has fallen far from MVP of the NA LCS Spring Split. While P1 has issues greater than just Arrow, the bot laner has not looked remotely close to form. KDAs are always lower on losing teams, but laning statistics such as gold differential, experience differential, and CS differential are mostly on the individual. Arrow’s laning statistics are significantly lower than last spring, and his overall damage has dropped off, which is strange considering hyper-carries are playable in the current meta.
Austin “Gate” Yu
Echo Fox, Support
KP%: Â 58.6% Â (lowest support)
XPD10: Â -119 Â (2nd lowest support)
Echo Fox has had a stalwart start to the split, but almost none of it can be attributed to Gate. While most other supports are drafting playmakers such as Rakan, Thresh, Blitzcrank, and Zyra, Gate has locked in Karma four games, and Sejuani three. FOX only won one of the three Sejuani games, and Gate did not seem to impact the series at all. For Echo Fox to reach the next level, Gate will need to contribute more meaningfully and consistently.
Each of these players has shown high points in the past, and should be able to bounce back from these first few weeks of competition. However, if they wish to remain contenders for playoffs, then they will need to improve as efficiently as possible. It is not uncommon for professional players to slump here or there. It happens every split. Getting out of it will require change. Trying new champion picks, setting different goals during practice, and working on communication within the team are all ways in which these LCS pros can overcome the criticism thrown their way.
Tune in next week for Summer 2017 Over/Under (Part 2): LCS Players Above Expectations.
Featured Image:Â LoL Esports Flickr
Champion Statistics:Â Oracle’s Elixir
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