Team SoloMid vs Golden Guardians

The 2020 LCS Summer Split playoffs are finally here! To start things off, we have a fairly interesting clash between the perennial LCS giants Team SoloMid, and an unlikely challenger: Golden Guardians. With both teams performing fairly well recently, this is definitely a match-up you shouldn't miss. It'll not only give us a better read into these two line-ups and their strength in the Best of 5 format, but also set the tone for the playoffs going forward.

Team SoloMid, in particular, have been quite confusing recently. On the one hand, they hold wins over the vast majority of the LCS and their overall win-loss tally (12W-6L) certainly evokes respect. Then again, when we dive underneath the surface, things aren't as impressive. They haven't been particularly dominant and even when they did manage to style on their opposition it was either against a bottom-tier dweller or a top-tier team that was struggling -- like Evil Geniuses or Cloud9. By the same token, their play is also quite problematic. BrokenBlade is often out of sync with his teammates, walking through the jungle or trying to split-push while the rest of his allies go for game-ending objectives, therefore leaving them to fight with unfavorable odds. His champion pool has also been heavily exploited. When he's on Irelia, for example, he's a force to be reckoned with, but when that isn't the case, he's often a complete non-factor. His impact on the map and in team fights is pretty darn weak when compared to most of his peers and he's also quite vulnerable in lane as well. Overall, he's not a particlarly potent weapon through which TSM can play, and with frequent mistakes (both in lane and in game), he often ends up being detrimental to his team.

Spica isn't much different, although we've seen his highs far more often. Sometimes he'll do exactly what his team needs, he'll impact the map and get his laners ahead with staggering ease. But then comes a game where he does nothing right and just implodes from minutes one. Is this a sign of his inexperience, or rather the fact that he's playing in a region that's stacked with many talented junglers, most of whom have been competing at the highest of levels for years? No one's quite sure, but TSM's top side of the map is always a question mark. There's a ton of potential, but whether or not they'll be able to harness it and actually leave a mark in the playoffs still remains to be seen.

Fortunately, Bjergsen and Doublelift have been performing above expectations (that's really saying something) and have single-handedly pushed this team into title contention. Bjergsen is a legend in every sense of the word, but we rarely see him this aggressive, both while laning *and* team fighting. He realized mid-split that TSM needed a bigger threat in the mid lane -- someone who would capitalize whenever possible and get his team ahead. As a result, he adjusted his playstyle and has blown our minds on a weekly basis regardless of the champion he was on. He's once again TSM's most potent catalyst, and watching him compete and style over his opponents will be an absolute must.

Fortunately for TSM, they're up against the Golden Guardians first who, while not a slouch by any means, aren't exactly a top-tier giant that's going to upset the long-established status quo. The Golden Guardians are a talented bunch, and their resilience and mental fortitude are quite commendable to boot. The sheer fact that they've finished in fifth place above Evil Geniuses and 100 Thieves is a true testament to their preparation and work ethic. Furthermore, they're deceptively dangerous even though they rarely look the part. Damonte and Closer are absolutely insane when they get off on the right foot, Hauntzer is as consistent as they come (and quite versatile as well), and FBI and huhi (former LCS champion, mind you) have quickly solidified their spot as one of the most dangerous and aggressive bottom lanes in the entire region. Where that kind of play came from is anyone's guess, but they've been taking heads on a weekly basis. FBI is insanely consistent and huhi has been creating a ton of space in the bottom lane for his marksman to work in. He's always positioning correctly and is constantly looking for an opening to attack and create a lead.

Overall, GGS have all the right tools to compete with the best teams the LCS has to offer, but they don't always set things up right, nor are they infallible once those hectic mid and late game team fights break out. Their decision-making is still often erroneous and they also tend to fall apart on an individual basis, therefore hindering their chances of finding success. Still, for a team that has no true superstar, they've done incredibly well with what they've had.

Team SoloMid is favored this time around and it's easy to understand why, but make no mistake: this will be far from one-sided. There are veterans on both sides of the Rift and they've been playing at the highest of levels for many years. Both line-ups are well acquainted and have surely prepared accordingly. TSM has more tools to work with but they haven't been as impressive as one would expect from such a stacked line-up. Whether that's because they were experimenting or because they just aren't as good as everyone expected still remains to be seen. One thing, however, is for certain: they want to push TSM back into the spotlight and to reclaim their long-lost throne. The odds of it happening aren't particularly favorable, but they'll try their best regardless. Even though GGS will fight valiantly, it's hard seeing TSM fumble this early on into the playoffs. In any case, expect fireworks from the very moment these two teams spawn on the Summoner's Rift!