TL;DW – LEC Edition: GX’s Surprise Victory Against G2

Week 5, Day 1 of the LEC Spring Split 2. GX vs G2.  GX’s roster is Lot (top), ISMA (jungle), Jackies (mid), Noah (bot), and Jun (support).  G2’s roster is BrokenBlade (top), SkewMond (jungle), Caps (mid), HansSama (bot), and Labrov (support).  GX is 1-4, G2 is 3-1.

Game 1: Sometimes a Counterpick Just Doesn’t Work Out

• GX draft a heavy engage comp with considerable physical damage.  As a counter, since they got last pick, G2 pick Malphite in order to help mitigate some of that power.  Their team is also heavily engage focused.
• Despite the Malphite counter pick, however, GX were able to run roughshod over G2.  Lot and Jackies especially deserve credit for their exceptional outplays.  Overall GX managed to set up better situations for themselves and, though it took them a little while, they eventually managed to control the map enough to win the game.

Game 2: Overconfident Will Get You Every Time

• In the second game, G2’s draft is slightly more synergistic than GX’s.  Between the Maokai, Braum, and Aatrox, there is plenty of CC and tankiness to allow the Caitlyn to free fire without concern.
• Despite the somewhat better team comp, G2 struggles in the early game.  A few mistakes cost them severely.  However, after a pair of bad decisions by Jackies lead to G2 winning team fights, they are able to take back tempo, reset their mental game, and achieve a win.

Game 3: What in the LEC Just Happened Here?

• G2 ends up getting a comp that is very much in their wheelhouse.  High engage potential with a strong wombo combo characters.  GX manages to get a few counter picks, such as Poppy and Wukong but G2 have managed to draft a team that has garnered them victories in the past.
• While the early game seems to go well for G2, they start making poor calls towards the mid game, which leads to their eventually collapse.  Between ill-advised reengages and bad position, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say that G2 threw this game hard.
• That’s not to say that GX didn’t deserve the win.  They manage to capitalize on G2’s missteps beautifully and their team fighting was excellent.  It seems that they have manage, at least somewhat, find their footing in this competition.

Post Series Analysis: G2 Has an Off Day

• This was not a good days for G2.  While they do manage to win the 2^nd game, it was primarily due to GX, specifically Jackies, greeding too hard when they didn’t need to.  The other two matches were demonstrated a level of play far below what is expected of a teams as experienced as G2.
• Time will tell whether GX’s success was a result of their own improvements or because of G2 lackluster showing.  In either case, they should try to make sure that this win doesn’t go to their head.  As the 2^nd game demonstrated, if you push to hard, you’re likely to break.
• After this game, G2 is 3-2 while GX is 2-4.