Week one at LCS 2016: The American Dream
NA enters into the spring split for LCS with uncertainty lingering, having suffered across the board during the back end of the 2015 World Championship group stage.
However, they have been re-energised with a new influx of money and talent and rigorous roster changes mean they come into 2016 packing a substantial punch.
This could finally be the season where the NA winners go on to be real contenders in the World Championship.
The first week has seen immediate results. Immortals certainly lived up to their name, coming out on top along with NRG Esports – both securing two wins in the two matches.
Immortals have assembled one of the most impressive team compositions in recent years thanks to the acquisition of Huni – arguably one of the best top Laners in the West.
Leaving Fnatic with nothing but a trail of successes, we can’t help but be excited to see what he produces at LCS.
The team delivered a good performance in their first match against Cloud9, gaining a strong hold on the game right from the start thanks to Jungler Reignover.
AD Carry WildTurtle also squashed claims that he was past his prime with an impressive 11 kills, and finished with a quadruple kill at the end of the match.
Their second win came as no surprise, as they dished out the pain against their weakest rivals, Team Impulse, who suffered a monumental loss within just 18 minutes.
It is hard not to take note of Immortals’ amazing presence within the NA LCS, having some of the most noteworthy players. (Yes, we’re looking at you, Reignover, Wildturtle, and Adrian.)
NRG has also had a strong start to the season, with the aforementioned two victories to boast of – one of which against Team Dignitas.
NRG is new to LCS, with an all-new team of players to boast of and what an impression they have made so far.
Suitably named Impact played in just one match, but had a strong game in his top lane. So too did the team’s Mid-Laner, GBM, who gelled well with his new teammates and proved a big factor in NRG’s success, racking up eight kills and 12 assists.
NRG’s performance stands in stark contrast to that of Team Liquid, frequent high performers. Liquid actually lost both their matches, although were particularly unfortunate to have been beaten by a decidedly lucky Team SoloMid in the second.
There’s no denying that TSM are the closest thing to a superteam NA has at the moment, boasting excellent player potential.
The loss of WildTurtle and Lustboy only meant that they came back stronger, acquiring Doublelift and Yellowstar (from Fnatic) as part of their roster change.
Players Bjergsen and Doublelift from Counter Logic Gaming also make it impossible to have anything but high hopes for this team in the NA LCS.
Despite this, TSM lost their first game to a strong CLG, the biggest rivalry of week one. But let’s not forget that each person on TSM is playing with four new players, unlike Counter Logic Gaming who have had at least six months to integrate.
Though still shaky, they started to find their feet in their second and their mistakes didn’t go so far as to cost them the game against Liquid. So it is 1-1 for SoloMid as it stands. Clearly there is still work to do, but deep potential beneath the surface.
Only one week in and we are already spoilt for action.
The heavy roster changes has meant some upsets and some surprises, with teams such as Immortals worth keeping an eye on.
Will the American league produce squads ready for glory at the World Championship? There’s only one way to find out.
READ: Out with the old and in with the new – part one
READ: lurppis: Current trends in how the top teams are viewed
