EG vs TL LCS 2022 Spring Playoffs Analysis (Part 2)
Another day, another game analysis. This is the second article in a series of articles analyzing the match between EG and TL in the LCS 2022 Spring Playoffs. In this one, we’ll look at game 2, and just like before, we’ll start with draft and then move on to gameplay.
In this game, TL keep the same bans. EG ban Jinx and Ahri because they thought they were a problem last game and they are both high priority picks, and Volibear again. TL first pick Viego since it is a high priority jungler and they had success on the pick last game. EG first pick Ryze as it is a high priority pick and it also gives them a way to influence the map which is something EG like to do in particular. They first pick Lee Sin since it is a strong pick in the meta and this also allows them to hide their other picks. Then, TL pick Xayah since it has risen in priority and Viktor since it is a strong teamfighting pick in the meta. Xayah and Viktor also have synergy because Xayah builds lethality these days, and this gives TL somewhat of a poke comp. EG then pick Leona because they are not worried about their Xayah counter being banned out and Leona is a good blind pick that gives them engage. It also has synergy with the pick they are planning for bot.
In phase 2, EG ban Tahm Kench because it is good into Leona, and Rakan, even though Leona is a counter, because TL are playing Xayah. TL ban Kai’Sa since it has risen in priority and is good with Leona (I still think this is weird because Xayah gets push in this lane), and Gnar since Impact played this last game and will have range advantage into TL’s top pick. EG then pick Miss Fortune since it will win lane against Xayah and it is good with Leona and Ryze. TL pick Alistar since it is a counter-pick to Leona and gives them engage, and Gragas since it is a good blind pick top. EG finish things off with Graves since it gets push into Gragas. I want to note that this game should be very hard for TL since EG got a draft with 3 pushing lanes, which should give Lee Sin the freedom to invade and get leads with his team being able to move around the map.
Now that that’s out of the way, we can talk about the game.
Here, EG have bounced the bot wave and it is now in a very bad spot for TL. EG also know that Viego was just top side since they saw someone hit the scryer’s bloom, and the only person it could have been was Viego. They should have been more aggressive in making this play happen. Leona can Q flash on Xayah, forcing her flash, and follow-up with E. With Lee Sin flanking, it is likely they even get a kill here.
A few minutes later, EG make a mid/jg play top lane, which I love because they are playing proactively which is what they should be doing with Ryze. Unfortunately, at the same time, Leona is walking forward aggressively and dies to a Viego gank. EG’s bot lane need to realize that since their team is making a play top, they are on the weakside bot lane, and thus they need to be playing safely. It might be helpful for EG’s top side to communicate to their bot lane that they are on the weakside.
Then, at 13:06, EG drop rift herald in the mid lane but don’t have the proper setup, and all of the gold goes to Lee Sin. In order to have a successful rift herald usage, you need to create a numbers advantage. In this example, EG are in an even-numbers situation mid. I explain how to properly use rift herald and show an example here. A few seconds earlier, EG had the opportunity to use herald to get first tower, which is so important because of the gold implications and the ability you gain to create tempo to snowball the game (pushing out top wave to rotate and create numbers advantages). I understand what they are thinking by not using herald here. They want to maximize what they can get from it. You can really only do this in the situation where you can break first tower without rift herald, and then drop it in another lane to maximize usage.
Here again, EG are not respecting weakside. That’s not why I want to look at this, however. Since TL make a top play here, EG should be looking to trade on the other side of the map. As you can see here, there is no way Leona is going to be able to make it top in time. Ryze is also taking this time to base (he buys a ruby crystal). Instead, Ryze should cancel his base, push the next wave, and EG can finish off this mid tower, or MF can slow-push bot wave, and they can push mid and move bot together to trade for bot lane outer. EG are able to get a tower after this but the only reason they are able to do so is because Xayah walks up for mid wave while her team is making the top play; she gets chunked and has to reset.
A little after 18:00, Graves and Leona both give up kills to a play they know is coming. Viktor is pushing in the bot wave and Graves has a good ward to see if he is getting dove. He sticks around when he should just leave the tower as soon as he sees Viego on the ward. It’s so unfortunate because EG have a great response to this play top side and end up trading for 2 towers (which they could have gotten without Graves and Leona dying).
Around 22:15, EG contest river on TL’s timing window, giving up multiple kills. Gragas has just pushed the bot wave and reset, while Graves is fixing bot wave, so EG have 5 on the top side of the map.
The last thing I want to look at is this unsuccessful objective setup by EG. Both Lee Sin and Graves reset too late, and Ryze goes top when he should be grouping mid with his team to contest the mid wave. Thus, TL are able to get mid prio as 5 and control over dragon (also mid lane outer). Not only are EG not set up for dragon in a game where they are in control, but they also give up a tower that they wouldn’t if they had proper setup. I go over objective setups in detail in a previous article.
To recap, EG should work on understanding when they are on weakside, and play it appropriately. They should work on their rift herald usage and on trading objectives. They should also work on recognizing enemy timing windows/tempo. Finally, EG should work on their objective setups.
