Analyzing SKT vs CJ’s Pick n Bans Game 1

Game 1 SKT Winner

SKT Blue Side | KT Red Side

Kogmaw | Kalista

Reksai | Rumble

Gragas | Ryze

Evelynn | Corki/Braum

Maokai/Alistar | Nidalee/Gnar

Vayne/Azir | Ezreal

The draft was won by SKT due to them getting an insane number of power picks. Knowing that they are going against Trick, an inexperienced jungler, they ban out the more traditional junglers and first pick Eve.

CJ responds with Corki, which is ok. Have no problem with that pick, but the Braum is where they lose me. They have to be worried that SKT will respond with Ezreal, Braum on their next rotation.

In  doing so they give Marin his most successful champion in Maokai, and arguably Wolf’s best champion in Alistar. Both of which are contested picks in this match up.

With CJ not wanting to show their Mid, and have a good lane match up in the top lane, they take Nidalee and Gnar. Apparently Trick is a good Nidalee player, warranting even a ban in the first game he played in Champions and Gnar is just a good match up into the Maokai. So not the worst, frankly what else could they have done here at this point. 

SKT really makes another smart move here, opting to go for Azir to take it away from Coco [Arguably the best Azir in the world]. Also locking in Vayne for Bang, no real negative there.

CJ at this point are kind of stuck. They have a poke Comp already with Corki/Nidalee, playing straight into the likes of Alistar/Maokai/Evelynn. They take the Ezreal, which really makes the itemization to MR easy for SKT. I would have liked to see the Jayce from Coco here, but regardless I do not think it would have mattered.

SKT are able to shutdown the Ezreal early, and snowball the game off of it. Thankfully, CJ adjust very nicely in game 2 which I will post tomorrow if you’re interested.