On May 12 2014 08:12 Hot_Bid wrote:
are DK fans in any way worried about how they will do at TI? they looked pretty much invincible at starladder but had a few losses afterwards

I'm not probably those who bandwagoned after sl9 and dont know that they had some questionable losses/draws leading up to sl9

Epoxide

Magic Woods9326 Posts

May 11 2014 23:37 GMT

#23

On May 12 2014 08:12 Hot_Bid wrote:
are DK fans in any way worried about how they will do at TI? they looked pretty much invincible at starladder but had a few losses afterwards

nope burning #1

Dreamer.T

United States3584 Posts

May 11 2014 23:41 GMT

#24

BurNiiiing your soul!!!!

Talron

Germany7651 Posts

May 11 2014 23:58 GMT

#25

On May 12 2014 08:12 Hot_Bid wrote:
are DK fans in any way worried about how they will do at TI? they looked pretty much invincible at starladder but had a few losses afterwards

Not sure, if it can be classified as worrying, but let me explain how I feel like. I definetly agree if someone says they've been playing lackluster past SL9, and even go as far as some of their losses made me facepalm on the edge of being really mad. Fact is: That they've been simply playing bad, for whatever reason - Tho i'd like to refrain from the whole "they're just practicing" stuff. However also fact is: They are one of the top contenders for top4 in TI4 - there's no denying in that.

And that's where my "worries" come in. Top4 is not enough. Winning is the only thing, that counts in their position. I'm not trying to be overly harsh on them or anything. I just look at it this way: I was already really sad last year, when they got eliminated, knowing that BurNing was gonna retire - gladly he did not. Now that he has decided to compete for one more year and give it one last shot. The rest of the team is in the same position. People like LanM, Mushi and Dai - all of them actually already wanted or are planning to retire at some point - Only one I don't know about is ice³. It's just very important to me, that they go out with a bang. All of those players have a legacy and I want their story to have a happy end.

I dnno it's just, when those players leave, there's something missing for me. They're like actual heroes to me - in more than just a DotA way. I know this sounds cheesy, but that's just how things are for me, since I've followed them since 2010 - BurNIng and Dai in particular. Unable to not get sentimental, when thinking about the last legendary EHOME members leave.

So, am I worried? Yes, worried that they're not winning the whole thing, because the competetion is fiercer than ever. Empire, NB, EG, VG, [A], iG, Na´Vi are also teams I could see reach top4, despite some of them not performing as of recent times.

Omigawa

United States1556 Posts

May 12 2014 00:18 GMT

#26

Just posting this here for posterity

http://www.liquiddota.com/forum/dota-2-general/170-sina-supernova-cup-3-power-shuffles#15

edit: @Hot_Bid

I'm not worried whatsoever. In fact, I think they will pull a repeat performance of SL9 at TI4 and not drop a single game. They've been off their game lately but they were before SL9 as well (and MLG). They're too individually skilled, too driven, too experience, etcetera ad infinitum to lose.

I think people questioning DK is just a by product of Western bias. They lost to DT in a single elim bracket for ESL One and everyone acts like DT is an amateur team that formed a month ago. Na'Vi doesn't even finish top 4 at SL9 (basically within walking distance of their homes) and there are less doubters than DK has. It's unreal.

Stancel

Singapore15360 Posts

May 12 2014 00:22 GMT

#27

On May 12 2014 08:12 Hot_Bid wrote:
are DK fans in any way worried about how they will do at TI? they looked pretty much invincible at starladder but had a few losses afterwards

They're still figuring out 6.81 etc, they'll go on a tear afterwards like they did with 6.80

also iceiceice #1

Existential

Australia2107 Posts

May 12 2014 00:25 GMT

#28

Hopefully they can pick up their lost form in time for TI4. Really want to see Burning hold up that Aegis.

SpiZe

Canada3640 Posts

May 12 2014 01:01 GMT

#29

I don't think DK is in a bad shape, at all. They have been experimenting a lot recently, with the patch, so they have been losing more than usual but they are still tier 1, easily. I feel they are trying to stay ahead of the curve, as they always were. They can still go back to their old pick and their "god status". i don't think 6.81 brought enough changes to cast DK down. game is pretty much the same, only minor balance change.

teddyoojo

Germany22369 Posts

May 12 2014 01:04 GMT

#30

iceiceice deserves to win ti4
too bad eesama wont show him mercy this time

rebdomine

6040 Posts

May 12 2014 01:55 GMT

#31

Too early to be worried about DK.

ZeaL.

United States5955 Posts

May 12 2014 02:00 GMT

#32

On May 12 2014 08:12 Hot_Bid wrote:
are DK fans in any way worried about how they will do at TI? they looked pretty much invincible at starladder but had a few losses afterwards

I think they're fine. It seemed to take them awhile to adjust to 6.79 and it seems like the same is happening. Also, I'm sure the amount of prep work they've done for their WPC matches is far less than the usual, I'm sure they will be studying/preparing for their opponents during TI4 way more.

rigwarl_bb

2 Posts

May 12 2014 02:49 GMT

#33

I do think their performance are a bit shaky after the patch. They picked a lot of greedy supports and get punished for it. Teams were going for early aggression against them and forcing mid-game team fights. With early game disadvantage, DK are losing mid game. It's a bit premature to count DK out for top 1 finish at TI4 but they do look like they are beatable now.

GMarshal

United States22154 Posts

May 12 2014 03:29 GMT

#34

Can someone point any "must watch" DK games from the past 3 or so months? ^_^

fluidin

Singapore1084 Posts

May 12 2014 03:38 GMT

#35

DK is beatable only if they do not continually improve their drafting. I read a comment about how DK needs time to figure out a certain patch because they tend to squeeze every last drop out of their picks/heroes in a way no other teams can. Therefore a new patch screws up that razor-knife edge they saunter on. This patch/meta seems to favor early-mid game aggression, and I don't doubt DK will find their way through this patch eventually, if not soon. (TT my Zenith flair is gone)

ForTehDarkseid

8139 Posts

May 12 2014 03:50 GMT

#36

@GMarshal, let me try

DK vs VG Sina Cup Finals Bo5 (best series of competetive dota in 2014 so far imo)
DK vs EG and Empire at SL9 LAN Finals for incredible pocket strats.
DK vs LGD WPC 2014 Game 2, DK vs iG Regular Stage SL9 Chinese quals.
BurNIng+Dai vs Titan WPC 2014 Regular Stage Bo2.

DK vs iG WPC ACE S1 Finals game 3 for LaNm Kunnka
DK vs iG G-League Finals game 2 for iceiceice Timber and IO-Bristle combo
more than 4 month passed, great games nonetheless.

Fwizzz

Philippines4420 Posts

May 12 2014 04:28 GMT

#37

Hopefully they will recover from their new patch slump and start crushing teams left and right.

riptide

5673 Posts

May 12 2014 06:10 GMT

#38

Honestly, the only fear I have about DK at TI4 is an irrational one. On paper, they are the most skilled team in the world in all of their positions (#1 - #5), and I have no doubt that they will go all the way. Yet, I also fear for them. Two of their players, who are also incidentally two of my all time favourite players, have waited a long, long time for a world championship, and I'm petrified of something, anything getting in the way of that this year in Seattle.

I don't think I can take seeing Mushi lose a TI again. Not after last year.

Carnivorous Sheep

Baa?21247 Posts

May 12 2014 06:15 GMT

#39

I don't think there is a single player I want to TI more than Burning.

Mushi would "deserve" it a lot too.

Really hope they take it home.

Anything can happen but on paper this is probably their best chance? Hoping they can stay in peak form for another 2 months.

riptide

5673 Posts

May 12 2014 06:19 GMT

#40

Oh yeah, I focused on Mushi in my post because he's my favourite player, but yeah, BurNing's world championship has been a long time coming as well. This is the year!