LCS predictions for the 2022 spring split

TL;DR

  • Team Liquid’s superteam requires early-season synergy development but projects as championship contender
  • 100 Thieves maintains championship roster with strategic sixth-man addition for flexibility
  • TSM embraces high-risk international talent development strategy with uncertain timeline
  • Cloud9’s LS coaching philosophy introduces innovative strategic approach to LCS
  • Lock In tournament serves as critical testing ground for new roster configurations

The North American League Championship Series has finalized all starting lineups for the upcoming competitive season, featuring both the LCS Lock In tournament and the 2022 spring split. This period marks a significant transformation in team compositions and strategic approaches across the league.

Organizations have implemented diverse roster construction philosophies, ranging from established superstar acquisitions to developmental talent investments. The competitive landscape appears more dynamic than previous seasons with multiple teams possessing legitimate championship aspirations.

Our analysis examines the most compelling roster configurations and provides strategic insights into team dynamics, player synergies, and championship probabilities. Understanding these team-building strategies can enhance your viewing experience and analytical perspective.

Team Liquid’s Superteam Composition and Projections

Team Liquid has executed an aggressive superteam strategy reminiscent of their approach during the initial franchising period. The organization invested heavily in acquiring established elite talent to construct a roster with immediate championship potential.

Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg represents the cornerstone acquisition, returning from retirement after establishing himself as North America’s most dominant domestic mid laner historically. His departure from TSM after extensive tenure marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape.

The roster retains only two members from previous iterations: jungler Lucas “Santorin” Larsen and world champion support Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-In. Their continuity provides strategic stability while integrating new high-profile additions.

Gabriel “Bwipo” Rau transitions back to his natural position after jungling for Fnatic, while Steven “Hans Sama” Liv brings elite marksmanship capabilities. Each player has demonstrated peak performance as top-tier competitors in their respective roles for extended periods.

We anticipate Team Liquid will experience a gradual performance curve during the initial stages, particularly given Bjergsen’s return to competitive play after absence. However, their ceiling projects among the highest in the league, positioning them to challenge defending champions 100 Thieves for spring split supremacy.

Strategic Insight: Superteams often require 4-6 weeks to develop optimal coordination and strategic synergy. Early tournament results may not fully reflect their ultimate competitive potential.

100 Thieves Championship Defense Strategy

100 Thieves captured their inaugural LCS championship through dominant performance against Team Liquid in the finals. Their aggressive, high-tempo playstyle consistently pressured opponents and disrupted conventional strategic approaches.

The organization maintains remarkable roster consistency, preserving the exact championship-winning lineup with one strategic addition. Milan “Tenacity” Oleksij joins as a sixth player, providing flexibility and developmental depth.

Tenacity has demonstrated exceptional performance in Academy and amateur competitions, establishing his reputation through 100 Thieves’ developmental system. His integration alongside established top laner Kim “Ssumday” Chan-ho creates valuable strategic options for the coaching staff.

While their World Championship performance revealed vulnerabilities that opponents may exploit, we project 100 Thieves will consolidate as a top-two North American team. They enter the LCS Lock In tournament as favorites, though competition remains formidable.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t overvalue international tournament performance when evaluating domestic strength. Teams often face different meta-games and preparation challenges at global events.

The addition of a sixth player represents an emerging trend in LCS roster construction, providing matchup-specific flexibility and internal competition that drives performance improvement.

TSM’s Radical Roster Reconstruction

TSM has implemented a comprehensive restructuring of their talent acquisition philosophy, departing from established North American veterans toward international developmental prospects.

The organization acquired two talents from the LDL (LOL Development League) alongside a coach from the PCS (Pacific Championship Series). This approach represents significant deviation from traditional roster-building methodologies in the LCS.

While the reconstructed roster possesses considerable potential, none of the components have established proven track records at the LCS level. This creates substantial uncertainty in performance projections compared to more established rosters.

TSM must demonstrate capability to compete against elite teams and successfully execute skill-check maneuvers that organizations like Team Liquid and 100 Thieves will undoubtedly employ.

For detailed analysis of TSM’s international acquisitions, consult our Class Guide for strategic frameworks on talent evaluation.

Development Timeline: International talent transitions typically require 1-2 splits to adapt to North American competitive environment and develop necessary communication structures.

The success of this approach hinges on effective coaching infrastructure and patient development, contrasting with immediate results expectations for superteam constructions.

Cloud9’s Strategic Revolution Under LS

The announcement of Nick “LS” deCesare as Cloud9’s head coach generated substantial excitement within the competitive community. LS has established himself as a premier analytical voice regarding strategic development, professional gameplay, and metagame evolution in recent years.

Cloud9 previously demonstrated value for LS’s perspectives through the hiring of Max Waldo and other strategic personnel in previous seasons.

Cloud9’s reconstructed roster incorporates several players unfamiliar to North American audiences. Kim “Berserker” Min-cheol transitions from T1 Academy as the primary AD carry acquisition.

The organization secured two support players: Kim “Winsome” Dong-keon and OCE representative Jonah “Isles” Rosario. This configuration necessitates focused development of team coordination and strategic integration to compete effectively against established organizations.

Strategic Innovation: LS’s coaching philosophy emphasizes unconventional draft strategies and gameplay approaches that may disrupt established LCS tactical conventions.

For comprehensive strategic frameworks that complement LS’s approach, explore our Complete Guide to advanced competitive methodologies.

The roster construction reflects confidence in coaching infrastructure to develop relatively unknown talent into competitive forces, representing an alternative team-building paradigm to immediate contender approaches.

Based on comprehensive roster analysis and historical performance patterns, we project the following competitive hierarchy for the 2022 LCS spring season:

LCS Lock In Tournament Favorites: 100 Thieves enter as slight favorites based on roster continuity and championship experience. However, Team Liquid’s superteam possesses the highest ceiling if they achieve optimal coordination.

Cloud9’s innovative approach under LS presents the highest variance projection, capable of either exceeding expectations or requiring extended development time.

TSM’s developmental approach likely positions them as a mid-table team initially, with potential for upward mobility as the split progresses.

Key Matchup to Watch: Team Liquid versus 100 Thieves represents the premier rivalry, featuring contrasting team-building philosophies and strategic approaches.

For detailed weapon and loadout strategies that parallel these team compositions, reference our Weapons Unlock guide for strategic equipment optimization.

The integration of international talent across multiple rosters introduces additional variables in performance projections, particularly regarding adaptation speed to North American competitive structures.

Early split performance should be evaluated within the context of team-building timelines rather than absolute competitive strength.

Action Checklist

  • Monitor Team Liquid’s early split coordination development and strategic integration
  • Evaluate 100 Thieves’ sixth-man integration and strategic flexibility implementation
  • Track TSM’s international talent adaptation and communication development
  • Analyze Cloud9’s strategic innovations under LS coaching philosophy
  • Compare team performance against pre-season projections and adjust evaluation criteria

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