2019 NALCS Summer Power Rankings

S. Samek

Here it is the return of the LCS for the summer split. Its also the return of Hammer down sports blog.

Anyway lets see where I think each team will finish this split.

10. Optic. Now this team finished tied for 7th last spilt. Yet they don’t look like a put togther roster that can contend for even playoffs. Dardoch, who might be the best talent on this team is splitting time and the rest of the roster is inconsistent at best. I just don’t have much confidence in this team.

9.Clutch. These guys are barely better than Optic. They finished 5-13 last spit and in 9th place. Yet they tired to change it up by moving Cody Sun into the starting roster. While Optic just stuck with the same roster. If a couple other teams get better I can see Optic falling further than Clutch. its just another roster that is inconsistent.

8.Echo Fox. Well its a more consistent, if not star powered roster. They did make the play offs in spring, yet I don’t see that happening. This was the team that benefitted from a couple teams having disastrous splits in spring. Yet if thse two turn it around its Echo Fox sitting out of the playoffs.

7.CLG. This is a team that underperformed in the spring. So they went out and did something about it. Ruin is in to replace Darshan in the top lane. This should be an interesting replacement as Ruin comes over from Turkish league team 1907 Fenerbahçe. It could be similar to TSM and Broken Blade and if thats the case CLG is making playoffs. I Still like how consistent the mid and bot lanes are even with the jungle and top being the question marks. Yet I would rather have this roster than the prior three mentioned teams.

6.100 Thieves. Ouch what a bad spring. Yet I don’t think its going to happen again. 100 sighned Amazing to jungle and called up Soligo from academy to play mid lane. Those were the two most questionable spots on the roster. Yet with top and bot lanes being still solid it might not matter. Just play through the other two lanes and don’t let mid fall too far behind and you have something. This is a playoff team they just have to play like it.

5.Golden Guardians. The team made some moves in the off-season and it payed off. They made the playoffs after back to back last place finishes last season. This is a team looking for more, but with out super high expectations. They might even be the fourth best team here. The only question is can they get even better and go toe to toe with the big three of Liquid, TSM and C9.

4.Flyquest. Solid if not spectacular this roster did enough to claim fourth last split. Yet it seems like they are in an odd spot. Like I don’t feel like this is a top three team, yet its not like they should be at the bottom. Though Golden Guardians maybe able to over take them and claim the four spot. Though it is worth noting Viper had a great rookie spit and won outstanding rookie of the spring 2019 split so there is a prospect to rebuild the roster around if the aging core starts to decline. Though this roster is at least more consistent than the later half of the LCS and should be able to contend every week.

3. C9. This was a tough decision to put them in this slot. TSM and C9 are both excellent teams. The core that finished forth at worlds is still in tact and performing well, even with Nisqy in for Jensen. In fact they tied Liquid for the best regular season record in spring 2019. This team only loses out to TSM from the head to head playoff match up from spring that TSM took. Its still a roster that can contend with anyone and should make a easy case for a spot at worlds. Even if they have to win a series or two in the regional finals like they always do.

2.TSM. So close, but yet not enough. So lets make a change. Grig is returning to the roster. It’s nice to have a second strong jungler, but is it enough to surpass Liquid. I’m not entirely sure it is. Yet with Zven, Smoothie and Bjergsen this line-up still looks deadly. Also worth keeping an eye on Broken Blade, who had a good first split in NA, finishing on the third team all LCS. TSM is out to take on all comers and should be representing LCS at worlds after this spit is over. The only question is which seed.

1.Team Liquid. First place finish in the last three splits and fresh off a finals birth at MSI. Complete with a series win over IG gaming, the current world champs. This roster didn’t have a player finish less than a 2nd team all LCS and had three of them finish as members of the first team. CoreJJ highlighted this by receiving the MVP award for the split. They could be challenged by TSM or C9 for first, but can take them on. No reason not to like TL to win a forth straight spilt.

There it is my power rankings heading into week one. Which is taking place this weekend. Stay tuned for further recaps and to see how accurate this list is at the end of the split.