100 Thieves vs Team Liquid

We have an absolute spectacle on our hands and, well, we couldn't be happier for that being the case! These two teams have been "going at it" for what feels like an eternity, always taking turns at beating each other, always so equal and competitive. Team Liquid versus 100 Thieves is basically the modern-day LCS 'el clasico' — akin to Team SoloMid v Cloud9 of yore.

Their clashes have been *that* good and worthy, even though the line-ups themselves changed over time. There's so much to like here, so much to get excited for that we're struggling to really put it into words. If there's one Best of 5 that you simply have to tune in to, it's this one. This match-up has the most potential — it is a veritable barnburner just waiting to happen.

These two giants are somehow always on a collision course towards each other — they're destined to trade blows and compete for the years to come, and so far their narratives and overall storylines have been nothing short of mouth-watering. They're LCS royalty, and rightful members of the North American pantheon — an exclusive club they've been members of for what feels like an eternity.

And, as is so often the case, we couldn't possibly predict what'll happen and who'll come out on top. They're neck and neck, separated by the slimmest and most negligible of margins.

There are, however, some mighty interesting stats and peculiarities that warrant our attention. 100 Thieves are a fairly mediocre early game team. That's no secret. Their mid-to-late rating, however, is amongst the highest in LCS history. They've been winning a whopping 25.3% more often than their early game would suggest (or predict, rather). That's a very fascinating tidbit, one that speaks volume about the way in which they play the game and how exactly they end up getting most of their wins.

They most often draft for late and have some awe-inspiring synergy as well — they play and win as a five-man unit, and it's been like that for quite a while. They might not be perfect, but their late game surges are a thing to behold (and, if you're their opponent, to fear).

Team Liquid, on the other hand, are the exact opposite. They have the best early game in the LCS but a slightly negative mid-to-late rating, which means they often generate leads through individual skill and mechanical prowess but aren't all that proficient at snowballing and closing things out. They're talented beyond measure but lack any real, team-wide cohesion — despite the fact that they've been playing under the same banner for many a month now.

They've also looked best whenever Bwipo had the reigns and was popping off (in well-known, patented Bwipo ways). Most of their mid/late gold, however, tends to go towards Hans Sama — a confusing decision, no doubt, given just how mediocre this legendary marksman has been throughout 2022.

They're not only out of sync but their win conditions are all "over the place" as well. They're just not quite certain on what the best and most optimal way of playing the game is — the old phrase "too many cooks in the kitchen" immediately comes to mind. They're all veterans and are as grizzled as they come, but they're still good enough "mix" stylistically speaking. And, well, that's an issue that probably isn't going to change any time soon.

They might have the mechanical talent and experience to compete with Evil Geniuses and 100 Thieves, but they lack the synergy and a coherent identity to play through — and it's been like that for months.

In the end, though, we have to pick a side and it's going to be 100 Thieves. We're not doing so with any tremendous amount of confidence, but they *have* been a lot more consistent and their highs were also a fair bit more impressive, too. A bad start isn't going to break their spirits nor affect their chances of coming out ahead, and it is precisely this virtue that has given them a fighting chance even in the most unfavorable of situations. They're seasoned, feisty, capable, and have more synergy and cohesion than any of their peers. That's a huge boon and it'll surely be on full display in this forthcoming Best of 5 as well.

Be that as it may, do not expect a clean sweep or a lopsided shellacking — this one can, and most likely will, go the five-game distance.