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10 thoughts going into LCS Spring Week 1
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There is A LOT of change happening to the LCS in 2023. LCS is moving to Thursday and Friday. Casting talent is going to be different, the format of the broadcast is going to be different (no more ‘set’ analyst desk.) Behind the scenes, teams have switched up the way they practice. LCS is now doing two 3-game blocks of scrims per day, whereas last year they were doing one 5-game block. Over half of the starting players from 2022 Summer have either left the LCS or switched teams. Only 23 of 50 starting spots remain the same as they did from the last split. There is one team in the LCS (TL) who has 5 players, two coaches, and 1 GM who speaks fluent Korean. There is only 1 LCS team (CLG) who is returning with their entire starting roster from the last split. Also, the stakes have changed with a new MSI format which promises to send the top TWO seeds from NA.
So how do we make sense of it all? One of the big things I'm going to be looking at to start the split is the concept of *continuity*. How important is it to have pre-existing synergy between players? How much does it matter that CLG is returning 5/5 players? How much will it hurt TL that their two rookies (Yeon and Haeri) are the only two players on their entire 5-man roster who have spent significant time playing together? How long will it take 100T to find their footing, especially considering the 10-year age gap between Doublelift and Busio? Why do I keep asking more questions while providing no answers?
**1. EG - The best team of 2022
Ssumday Inspired Jojopyun FBI Vulcan** (3 of 5 returning from Summer)
Thinking back to 2022, I think I’m willing to rank EG as the best team. They won Spring, had a solid showing at MSI, and then went 15-3 in Summer before losing in playoffs. They also finally managed to beat G2 and had an overall winning record versus EU teams at Worlds, so there’s that.
While it’s unfortunate that Danny won’t be returning to the team to start the split, (unknown if he will return at all) they've done a great job filling his shoes and rounding out the roster. FBI is an exceptional teamfighting ADC and is incredibly consistent. Ssumday taking Impact’s place *should* be a smooth transition as they are the two greatest top laners to ever play in NA. Overall, expectations should be sky high for EG in 2023.
**2. C9 - Defending champs
Fudge, Blaber, Diplex, Berserker, Zven**
C9 had an incredibly tumultuous 2022. They looked like the best team in the league through most of Spring (and their top laner Summit won LCS MVP) before flaming out in playoffs. They then made massive mid-season changes, swapping Fudge back to top, swapping Zven to support, and then bringing back Jensen and won Summer 2022.
This team in 2022 made me highly question how valuable *continuity* is in the LCS. The team played together for only 1 split. Their support had recently role-swapped, and their ADC mainly spoke a different language than the rest of the team. Yet, the patch fit right and they absolutely steamrolled everyone else in the playoffs.
The biggest change this year is definitely Jensen being out, and Diplex coming in. Diplex is a 19-year-old German mid laner who spent last year on Vitality.Bee. I have to say, with how many roster changes Jack Ettiene has made over the years with C9, fans just default to trust that Diplex is going to fit right in.
It’s hard for me not to rank C9 extremely highly coming into Spring. After all, they ARE the defending champions, and they are returning the majority of their roster. *But does continuity really matter?* Time will tell.
**3. TL - Recovering from 2022
Summit, Pyosik, Haeri, Yeon, CoreJJ**
Based on the expectations, 2022 was an absolute disaster for Team Liquid. They had the most expensive roster in North American history, and only managed a 3rd and 4th place finish in Spring and Summer. Clearly, something needed to change.
There are a couple of things different about this iteration of TL. As their GM Dodo mentioned, they are going to try and just work harder than every other LCS team, something they think will be easier with 5 Korean-speaking players.
They’ve also taken a small page out of 2022 EG’s book. Pairing 3 veterans (Summit, Pyosik, and CoreJJ) with two young rookie players (Haeri and Yeon). By the way, Haeri and Yeon absolutely dominated Academy in 2022. They won both splits of Proving Grounds, and topped nearly every statistical category for their role. It’s actually fairly surprising how little hype Haeri and Yeon are receiving in contrast to players like Tenacity and Busio, or even looking back to the 2021 Academy performances of Jojopyun and Danny. By contrast, Haeri and Yeon have better stats than all of them.
Overall, I’m quite excited to see how this TL team fares in 2023.
**4. FLY - Swinging for the fences
Impact, Spica, Vicla, Prince, Eyla**
All things considered FLY had a pretty decent showing in 2022. 9-9 in Spring, 10-8 in Summer. Compared to expectations of their roster it’s safe to say that they overperformed. Expectations are definitely different this year.
FLY made huge changes, starting with the signing of Papasmithy as President and Chief Gaming Officer for FlyQuest. He decided to completely reshape the roster along with the expectations.
There are 0 returning players from the 2022 squad. In their place, FlyQuest have put together an extremely young roster. Prince and Vicla are two extremely hyped prospects from the LCK, and Eyla was one of the best players in Academy in 2022. They also made sure to maintain a veteran presence on the team with Impact and former LCS MVP Spica.
On paper, this team can contend for the title, but there are just so many moving parts. Two players coming to NA for the first time, 0 players with experience together, and early visa issues with Eyla not being available to play in Week 1.
One thing is clear for FLY in 2023 though – they are looking to contend.
**5. 100T - LCS Twitter Champions
Tenacity, Closer, Bjergsen, Doublelift, Busio**
2022 was a year where 100T was weirdly *stuck*. They were coming off a 2021 Summer Championship, meandered through 2 splits worth of Bo1s, and then got swept 3-0 in the finals of both splits. Even though objectively, 2nd place in both Spring and Summer is a good year – *emotionally* it’s a terrible one. It often feels worse to get to the final battle and get demolished than it does to not make the final battle at all. Clearly, it was time for some change with 100T in 2023.
This is another team that is borrowing EG’s 2022 strategy and seeing how it treats them. Tenacity and Busio are promotions from the Academy team, Closer is the one remaining starter, and Doublelift and Bjergsen are the most prolific and experienced mid-ADC combo in LCS history. With that being said I think this team is going to start slow. The last time Doublelift and Bjergsen teamed up was in the 2020 Summer iteration of TSM who ended up winning the split – but the start was very rough. I’m going to be interested in seeing how this team responds when adversity hits. Two rookies + two of the most experienced players on League of Legends could be a difficult dynamic to navigate fairly.
Don’t be surprised if this team starts 4-5… also don’t be surprised if they win the Spring Split.
**6. DIG - Winning time
Armut, Santorin, Jensen, Pawn, IgNar**
It definitely feels like DIG are trying to step it up this year. The last *many* years DIG have put together lackluster rosters that most people place between 8-10th in power rankings – before overperforming those expectations and squeaking into the playoffs or narrowly missing. While it’s nice to consistently beat expectations… it’s nicer to actually be good.
It’s hard to imagine a team with Armut, Santorin, and Jensen not being good. Jensen has gone to Worlds every year he’s been in the LCS, including last year where he jumped onto a C9 roster that was treading water and then ended up winning the split. Another year and another new home for Jensen. I do think he’s going to have to play on this DIG team like he did on the old (2016-era) C9 rosters. This team doesn’t have the same level of explosiveness across the roster that Jensen has been accustomed to for the past 3 years.
**7. CLG - Run it back
Dhokla, Contractz, Palafox, Luger, Poome**
How valuable is continuity really? It feels extremely odd to put them in 7th. Like there's no way that can be right? They were 6-12 (8th) in Spring, and then 11-7 (4th) in Summer and ended the playoffs tied for 5th after nearly beating TL in a losers’ bracket series (but they lost both series 2-3). If we look at them like an anime protagonist things only improve… right? But does the curb appeal of all of the shiny new rosters push CLG down? Like how many years do we have to go through with teams shuffling their rosters, saying “this will be the year” only to fall short? SURELY THE CONTINUITY MEANS SOMETHING RIGHT?
Anyways, CLG 7th. Moving on.
**8. GG - Not a rebuild
Licorice, River, Gori, Stixxay, Huhi**
It’s been a spring of disappointing years for Golden Guardians. After the promising 2020 roster left for 100T and eventually won the LCS, GG have been attempting to rebuild. Unfortunately, the “rebuild” now enters Year 3. Funnily enough, the main veteran of their initial 2021 rebuild roster (Stixxay) is the only remaining player from that squad. This year’s roster definitely takes on a different feel. They brought back three fifths of their ending roster from 2022, brought on Korean mid laner Gori over from PSG Talon, and welcome Huhi back into the org.
This is anything but a rebuild roster. In fact, they have former LCS Champions on the squad (Licorice, Stixxay, Huhi) and River has won PCS. Listing through their accomplishments, 8th feels low, yet here we are.
**9. IMT - Looking forward
Revenge, Kenvi, Ablazeolive, Tactical, Fleshy**
IMT finished 2022 Spring in 10th and 2022 Summer in 9th. It’s safe to say 2022 was a disaster.
IMT could be looking at a difficult year in 2023. But let’s not dwell on the negatives—instead, what could go *right* for this team?
Kenvi actually has a chance to succeed this year. If Tactical can keep his mental strong on this team he’s got the potential to carry several of their games.
It’s hard to find a player on this roster who doesn’t have a chip on their shoulder, and with expectations low they’ll be looking to prove people wrong.
**10. TSM - Hope springs eternal
Solo, Bugi, Maple, Neo, Chime**
Last year was pretty horrible for TSM. “Every day at TSM is a banger” became a pretty popular and well-known phrase. In 2023 they lost their former MVP Spica to FlyQuest, and attempted to replace him with Bugi, who, while showing moments of great play throughout his career, never reached the peak that Spica has achieved. It’s an incredibly tall task for all of these players at TSM. Based on the innate pressure that comes with playing on TSM, and the community's propensity to take pleasure in the failings of the franchise, I see it being difficult for TSM to prove the haters wrong.
But you never know.
See you all on Thursday!
