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Well here we are at the semi-finals already. Season sure is moving quick now. I will unfortunately not be here this weekend (have to go to some stupid wedding for people I've met like twice...better be free booze). So someone may have to take up the Hot or Not banner for me this week. (Kthx if you want to get in shape for TWL?) So without further ado, here's my extra beefy (For you Crunchy Nut) semi-finals preview.
Here are the current brackets (with super high production values)
TWDT-D:
Revenge______
Top5Squad___|______
Int Preds_____
Ruby________|_______
TWDT-J:
Revenge______
WOOT_______|______
Int Preds_____
Without Ease_|______
TWDT-B:
Revenge______
WOOT_______|______
Int Preds_____
Ruby________|_______
On to the individual game previews then, shall we?
TWDT-D
Revenge vs. Top5Squad
This is a rematch of a recent week 7 blowout win by Revenge (50-28). Revenge (as usual) showed up one of their top lines, but Top5Squad was missing a few starters (chuckle and jones most notably, and Scoop made a rare and probably rusty appearance). Misled took over the game from the beginning and finished 18-8, with most of Misled's teammates going positive as well. Will the same result happen again? I would say that is unlikely, considering the way Top5Squad played last week in demolishing WOOT. These are the two teams with the least number of different players used during the year, so they should have decent teaming. This is an early prediction, but I think whoever wins this game will win the final as well.
Top5Squad's expected starting lineup:
Apok, Cui, Jones, Chuckle, Jaa/Ro/Scoop/Lockdown/Death Row
That is the lineup they used last week and played well with it. Jaa has told me he has confidence in himself and will probably start, but Ro, Scoop, Lockdown, and Death Row could possibly crack the starting line if they show up or for some other reason. No <3 has also been very active for them, but has not played that well this year.
Revenge's expected starting lineup:
Burnt, Riverside, Vys, Misled, Hercules/vt/Spaceship/Terian
Statistically, Spaceship has played the best out of that last group of players on the year. However, it would not surprise me if Hercules got the start. Revenge has only played 9 wbs all year, so i would be very shocked if someone other than the people listed play in this game.
It's a tough call, but it's hard to bet against Revenge, especially when Top5Squad has been so inconsistent.
Internet Predators vs. Ruby
Whereas the previous game was a rematch from Week 7, this is a rematch from way back in Week 1. Both teams have changed significantly since, especially Internet Predators, who have improved dramatically in dueling division in the last few weeks. Ruby won that game in Week 1 50-40, using one of the best lineups they possess (including a rare showing from Geisha). In addition, Ruby upset Without Ease last week impressively and teamed very well in doing so.
Ruby's expected starting lineup:
Jethro Tull, Unabled, Deck, Lofty, killergt/kid kaos/Exalt/beam/Quartz
The first 4 names were the starting lineup for last week and all have decent stats on the year, including Jethro Tull with the 4th best K : D ratio in the league, and Deck/Unabled in the top 11. Of the rest, Quartz has the best numbers but appears to be inactive, at least as far as TWDT goes. Kid Kaos played OK last week and has played in a large percentage of Ruby's games this year, and may get the nod again this week.
Internet Predators' expected starting lineup:
Jamal, Rasaq, bike, Crunchy Nut/Pascone/Saetep/Shadowmere/Squazzie/Ricko/Sphinktor
This was a tough line to pick out after the first 3. They have played a lot of guys for only 1 or 2 weeks this year and have a few random carries (Squazzie 13-4 and Shadowmere 16-5 in only games played for them), as well as Pascone one of their bigger names struggling throughout the year. However, one thing this shows is that they have good depth and could win with a number of starting lines.
Both of these teams are hot coming in, winning a few games in a row each. They also both have had a few players carrying them throughout the year (some unexpectedly), so this game could really go either way depending on who has a good game. If someone like Jamal or Jethro Tull manages to get a carry, that will probably push the game in one direction or another.
TWDT-J
Revenge vs. WOOT
This is getting weird. Once again Revenge gets a rematch against a team it beat in Week 7 but is probably the next best team to Revenge itself in the individual league. WOOT, however, played nowhere near its optimal line in that game against Revenge. There was probably only one, maybe two, players who have a shot of cracking the lineup this week. Revenge's jav line has been the most dominant squad of the entire season, as well as the line with the best attendance. Revenge has only played 7 different javs in its 7 different games this year (winning all 7 fairly easily), which is just astounding. If any squad has a shot against Revenge in javelin, WOOT is probably it, but they will have to play a great game in order to win.
WOOT's expected starting lineup:
Ease, Eelam, H0M0, Kawrae, Confluence/flared/Jrahen/Creature/PUNK rock
H0M0 was the only player in that top 5 that didn't show up last week (and Jrahen did mediocre in his place). They will need their best in order to beat Revenge who we know almost for sure will show their best. Ease has to be given a lot of credit for handling things while Creature has been unable to play due to lag/been asleep at match time in China.
Revenge's expected starting lineup:
Aimbot, maketso, Hercules, Dawk, Necromotic/Singer/Cripple
These are the only players to have played this year for Revenge in javelin. They have been good, all of them. Maketso has the highest qualifying K : D in the league, and the others aren't far behind him. Aimbot has a super impressive 1.50 K : D even after playing in every game. If 5 of these 7 players don't show up, I will be very shocked.
I've pretty much said it all already, but Revenge is the heavy favorite to win the title in this league. If anyone can beat them, it is probably WOOT, but they will have to show one of their best lines and really play well.
Without Ease vs. Internet Predators
Once again, this is a rematch of a Week 7 game. This is the infamous "Megaman89 lagged out and was not subbed out for too long" game, won by Internet Predators 50-46 in a fierce comeback. The teams were fairly even when playing even-strength (except at the beginning when Megaman89 was dominating). I thought before that match that these were the 3rd and 4th best javelin teams, so it should again be a tight battle. Without Ease won last week in a moderately tough game against Ruby.
Without Ease's expected starting lineup:
Megaman89, Raples, Sauro, Hypocrit, I.D./Struck/kid/freddie/Golden_Aim
This starting 5 is the same as the one used last week and in Week 7. In Week 7, kid subbed in for Megaman89. Struck actually has better stats than anyone but Sauro and Megaman89, but he was not put in last week.
Internet Predators' expected starting lineup:
Shadowmere, Dead_Rain, Fludd, Jamal, Spikey/M_M God/Damnifier/FieryFire/Dynasty/bike
Like in warbirds, Internet Predators has good depth and has played a higher than average number of players. Not very sure if Fludd or FieryFire would even show up, but the others are likely to. Shadowmere and Dead_Rain have been very good the last few weeks, and I have a feeling Jamal will be playing in javelin this week since it is the playoffs and the 2 league rule is lifted.
This should be a tight game, unless Megaman89 takes over again. I'd say that Internet Predators had the better regular season record and beat Without Ease, so they should be favored...but they were embarrassed for the first 3 minutes in that regular season game before Megaman89 lagged out and didn't bother to come back. Winner will face a tough game in the finals, but anything is possible in this game of ours.
Here are the current brackets (with super high production values)
TWDT-D:
Revenge______
Top5Squad___|______
Int Preds_____
Ruby________|_______
TWDT-J:
Revenge______
WOOT_______|______
Int Preds_____
Without Ease_|______
TWDT-B:
Revenge______
WOOT_______|______
Int Preds_____
Ruby________|_______
On to the individual game previews then, shall we?
TWDT-D
Revenge vs. Top5Squad
This is a rematch of a recent week 7 blowout win by Revenge (50-28). Revenge (as usual) showed up one of their top lines, but Top5Squad was missing a few starters (chuckle and jones most notably, and Scoop made a rare and probably rusty appearance). Misled took over the game from the beginning and finished 18-8, with most of Misled's teammates going positive as well. Will the same result happen again? I would say that is unlikely, considering the way Top5Squad played last week in demolishing WOOT. These are the two teams with the least number of different players used during the year, so they should have decent teaming. This is an early prediction, but I think whoever wins this game will win the final as well.
Top5Squad's expected starting lineup:
Apok, Cui, Jones, Chuckle, Jaa/Ro/Scoop/Lockdown/Death Row
That is the lineup they used last week and played well with it. Jaa has told me he has confidence in himself and will probably start, but Ro, Scoop, Lockdown, and Death Row could possibly crack the starting line if they show up or for some other reason. No <3 has also been very active for them, but has not played that well this year.
Revenge's expected starting lineup:
Burnt, Riverside, Vys, Misled, Hercules/vt/Spaceship/Terian
Statistically, Spaceship has played the best out of that last group of players on the year. However, it would not surprise me if Hercules got the start. Revenge has only played 9 wbs all year, so i would be very shocked if someone other than the people listed play in this game.
It's a tough call, but it's hard to bet against Revenge, especially when Top5Squad has been so inconsistent.
Internet Predators vs. Ruby
Whereas the previous game was a rematch from Week 7, this is a rematch from way back in Week 1. Both teams have changed significantly since, especially Internet Predators, who have improved dramatically in dueling division in the last few weeks. Ruby won that game in Week 1 50-40, using one of the best lineups they possess (including a rare showing from Geisha). In addition, Ruby upset Without Ease last week impressively and teamed very well in doing so.
Ruby's expected starting lineup:
Jethro Tull, Unabled, Deck, Lofty, killergt/kid kaos/Exalt/beam/Quartz
The first 4 names were the starting lineup for last week and all have decent stats on the year, including Jethro Tull with the 4th best K : D ratio in the league, and Deck/Unabled in the top 11. Of the rest, Quartz has the best numbers but appears to be inactive, at least as far as TWDT goes. Kid Kaos played OK last week and has played in a large percentage of Ruby's games this year, and may get the nod again this week.
Internet Predators' expected starting lineup:
Jamal, Rasaq, bike, Crunchy Nut/Pascone/Saetep/Shadowmere/Squazzie/Ricko/Sphinktor
This was a tough line to pick out after the first 3. They have played a lot of guys for only 1 or 2 weeks this year and have a few random carries (Squazzie 13-4 and Shadowmere 16-5 in only games played for them), as well as Pascone one of their bigger names struggling throughout the year. However, one thing this shows is that they have good depth and could win with a number of starting lines.
Both of these teams are hot coming in, winning a few games in a row each. They also both have had a few players carrying them throughout the year (some unexpectedly), so this game could really go either way depending on who has a good game. If someone like Jamal or Jethro Tull manages to get a carry, that will probably push the game in one direction or another.
TWDT-J
Revenge vs. WOOT
This is getting weird. Once again Revenge gets a rematch against a team it beat in Week 7 but is probably the next best team to Revenge itself in the individual league. WOOT, however, played nowhere near its optimal line in that game against Revenge. There was probably only one, maybe two, players who have a shot of cracking the lineup this week. Revenge's jav line has been the most dominant squad of the entire season, as well as the line with the best attendance. Revenge has only played 7 different javs in its 7 different games this year (winning all 7 fairly easily), which is just astounding. If any squad has a shot against Revenge in javelin, WOOT is probably it, but they will have to play a great game in order to win.
WOOT's expected starting lineup:
Ease, Eelam, H0M0, Kawrae, Confluence/flared/Jrahen/Creature/PUNK rock
H0M0 was the only player in that top 5 that didn't show up last week (and Jrahen did mediocre in his place). They will need their best in order to beat Revenge who we know almost for sure will show their best. Ease has to be given a lot of credit for handling things while Creature has been unable to play due to lag/been asleep at match time in China.
Revenge's expected starting lineup:
Aimbot, maketso, Hercules, Dawk, Necromotic/Singer/Cripple
These are the only players to have played this year for Revenge in javelin. They have been good, all of them. Maketso has the highest qualifying K : D in the league, and the others aren't far behind him. Aimbot has a super impressive 1.50 K : D even after playing in every game. If 5 of these 7 players don't show up, I will be very shocked.
I've pretty much said it all already, but Revenge is the heavy favorite to win the title in this league. If anyone can beat them, it is probably WOOT, but they will have to show one of their best lines and really play well.
Without Ease vs. Internet Predators
Once again, this is a rematch of a Week 7 game. This is the infamous "Megaman89 lagged out and was not subbed out for too long" game, won by Internet Predators 50-46 in a fierce comeback. The teams were fairly even when playing even-strength (except at the beginning when Megaman89 was dominating). I thought before that match that these were the 3rd and 4th best javelin teams, so it should again be a tight battle. Without Ease won last week in a moderately tough game against Ruby.
Without Ease's expected starting lineup:
Megaman89, Raples, Sauro, Hypocrit, I.D./Struck/kid/freddie/Golden_Aim
This starting 5 is the same as the one used last week and in Week 7. In Week 7, kid subbed in for Megaman89. Struck actually has better stats than anyone but Sauro and Megaman89, but he was not put in last week.
Internet Predators' expected starting lineup:
Shadowmere, Dead_Rain, Fludd, Jamal, Spikey/M_M God/Damnifier/FieryFire/Dynasty/bike
Like in warbirds, Internet Predators has good depth and has played a higher than average number of players. Not very sure if Fludd or FieryFire would even show up, but the others are likely to. Shadowmere and Dead_Rain have been very good the last few weeks, and I have a feeling Jamal will be playing in javelin this week since it is the playoffs and the 2 league rule is lifted.
This should be a tight game, unless Megaman89 takes over again. I'd say that Internet Predators had the better regular season record and beat Without Ease, so they should be favored...but they were embarrassed for the first 3 minutes in that regular season game before Megaman89 lagged out and didn't bother to come back. Winner will face a tough game in the finals, but anything is possible in this game of ours.
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