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Matsui Kai
The Digital Ninja
![]() Well, the playoffs begin Wednesday. See my other posts about individual team previews, but now its time for me to start making my picks. I sort of went back and forth a few times, trying to decide whether I should preview the entire playoffs, or just the first weekend's quarterfinal rounds. I went with the latter since, if I'm wrong in the first round, nothing else I predict really matters anyway, so may as well stick with what I have control over. ![]() There were times this year that New York became such a dominant team that they seemed like they were just toying with their opponents, and after only losing one match per stage in the first three, they seemed to lay off some in the fourth, dropping multiple matches for the first time all year, including twice to the LA Valiant and once to the LA Gladiators, and Boston Uprising, both playoff teams. Additionally, and more troubling, this is a team that has occasionally struggled in stage playoffs, despite having the arguably better team and higher expectations. We're going to learn a lot about NYXL in the playoffs. Are they the team they've been all season, dominating opponents to easy wins, or has it been so easy for them in the regular season that when they do come up against the very best of the rest of the league they falter? Excel has the team to win it all. Do they have the drive? ![]() At one point during the season, it looked like the Valiant were floundering. They weren't winning matches, weren't catching breaks, and were constantly tinkering with their lineups. While they stated that the real goal was the end-of-season playoffs, they seemed more like they were headed for a rebuild for next season rather than an attack for this one. Fast forward to now and the Valiant capture the Pacific Division crown over their inner-city rivals, and did so in absolutely convincing fashion. The Valiant come into the playoffs having lost only once in all of stage 4 and winning the last stage playoffs to give them an enormous boost. It seems that the Valiant are one of the favorites to win the league, only proving that a retool CAN work midseason, if done properly. ![]() Well, what can anyone say about Boston, from somehow managing to storm through one stage right after the first Overwatch League star player firing and even handling a coaching change, only to really struggle in the last stage. Their record is good enough to get them the first wild card spot, but unlike some of the other teams below them, they are not coming in having grown into the season, but seemingly fading. They need to really dig deep to find their hearts now, or they may be looking at a rapid exit from the playoff picture. ![]() Really, both of the Los Angeles teams have had some Jekyll to go with their Hyde this season. And, if it wasn't for the existence of the Valiant in second, the Gladiators probably would find themselves in position as turnaround team of the year. What's even better is that they have gotten better... MUCH better as the season has gone along, growing into the game and the league in a way that will probably keep them competitive for quite some time. ![]() Coming into the season, likely no one would've predicted that the London Spitfire would be the 5th ranked team (and even fewer would've believed that Seoul Dynasty was destined to fall out of the playoffs completely). Still, you are what your record says you are, or so the saying goes, and this team is a good, but not great group. The problem is teamwork. There are times they can really come together and shine. And other times that... well.... yeah. ![]() I promised that I'd do a preview for each of the Overwatch League playoff teams. But... sometimes others write them so much better. So, first up is the sixth team in, the Philadelphia Fusion. While an up and down team throughout the season, the ups outnumbered the downs, giving them the final spot in the year-end playoffs. Still, the Fusion enter the playoffs with the lowest map differential of any playoff team, meaning they tend to play tight, close matches. They're a fascinating team when they're on their game, and at this point, should anyone really be counted out? ![]() The Overwatch League playoffs are here, and will take place from July 11 - 21, 2018. The top teams in each division win a first round bye, while the next best four teams qualify for the first round. Each round will be a best-of-three series of best-of-five matches. Over the next couple weeks, I'll try to analyze each of the teams heading into the playoffs and might even try my hand at a formal prediction! Until then, check out the brackets! |
Kai MatsuiMost of the time, just an average, everyday teen trying to make my way through school and life and not screw it up too badly. Archives
August 2019
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