EPT
Part 1: Click Here
Terrans:
For the first time, HERO meets an opponent with a worthy Terran lineup. It's basically Xellos and Iris vs Light and Sea, and that is one matchup that is hard to predict. Although I think that Hero's Terrans are slightly better at the moment, it will largely depend on the actual matchups. Where the coaches place each of these capable Terrans will determine who wins and who loses. In those terms, uhjoo and Iris are more balanced and versatile, but not by much. Any of these guys are top-tier material.
Advantage: By the slightest of margins, MBCgame. Sea and Light combined are just a tad stronger than Xellos and Iris - and I think Light is the best player outright of the four, at the moment.
Zerg:
There is no question here. Savior is not just the best player on his team. He is not just the best player in both teams. He is the best player in the entire progaming scene. As much as it saddens me to say this, July on his best day can't compete with that. And Savior is backed by Jy for the 1v1s, which is nothing to sneeze at. In contrast, July is the only realiable 1v1 Zerg card for Hero, and he's been slumping bad these days. Saint and Shark are decent, but I would put both under Jy.
Advantage: Large advantage to CJ. I would expect noless from Savior than winning two games (provided they to go the ace match).
Protoss:
In all honesty, CJ only has one 1v1 Protoss card - Much. Much is brilliant PvP, awesome PvT, but his PvZ is suspect and he might be sniped down. On the other hand, Hero has Pusan and Bisu. Pusan's performance will depend on how he conquers his nerves and brings his A game: his A game is good enough to beat anybody. Bisu plays like a hammer: uncomplicated but effective. He'll have a say into the outcome of this match as well.
Advantage: MBCgame. Much is strong, but he is flawed. And he's alone.
2v2:
CJ went 5-5 in teamplay, usually using Rage and Oversky, sometimes adding a Terran in the mix for Vampire. I would prediect Rage, Oversky, Mingu, and a Terran to play 2v2 for CJ. Should Coach Cho split the team of Rage and Oversky to cover for the less skilled 2v2 partners? Or should he keep them together and hope that Mingu/SomeTerran can pull off a win? Either way, neither choice is ideal. MBCgame has mostly been using Bisu/Saint on Full Moon and 910/TheZerg on Vampire. 910/TheZerg lost all their regular season matches, but have been the surprise of this postseason, stepping up to give MBCgame precious wins each time. But will they be figured out by the finals? Will their nerves betray them on the big stage? They remain unproven. Bisu/Saint are also a strong team, but if Coach Ha decides to split the two so that Bisu can play a 1v1, Hero will have to get creative to make the teams work.
Advantage: MBCgame. Put simply, CJ has only one reliable 2v2 team. MBCgame has two. Additionally, July and Sea are possible 2v2 cards. However, It remains to be seen whether Bisu/Saint will play 2v2 or 1v1.
Ace:
Savior. End of discussion.
Advantage: CJ.
Depth/Flexibility
What's interesting is that CJ are also a well-balanced team, and they are the first postseason opponent that will give Hero trouble at Terran. Up to now, Hero didn't have to worry about facing the other team's Ts, but that will change. With Xellos, Iris, Savior, Jy, Much, and Rage, CJ has the balance to match up with Light, Sea, July, Pusan and Bisu. But MBCgame still has more depth. Their second-tier players - 910, Saint, Shark, TheZerg, JuniToss, are better than CJ's bench of Oversky, Mingu, and ForU. The one twist is the rookie Terrans that Coach Cho has included into the CJ roster, but I doubt they will be a factor.
Advantage: MBCgame. CJ's balance presents a challange, but MBCgame are deeper. They are never held up by one particular map or matchup, and this will be important for a best of 7.
Coach:
Coach Cho is the man behind CJ's success. He has cultivated an atmosphere of perfection at CJ, where he has raised his young players into a group of steel-faced assassins. CJ are the most confident, most consistent, and most unshakable of all the proteams, and this is entirely to Coach Cho's credit. On the other hand, Coach Ha is the mentor to all of his young players at Hero. He believes in his players no matter what, and that confidence makes them stronger. It's a heart-based approach to coaching, and Coach Ha does it best. His nest is just as reflective of his personality as CJ - except with opposite results: free-wheeling kids out to have fun.
Advantage: Even. Two respected coaches with opposing philosophies. They have the complete trust of their team, and their players will go to war for them. It's also worth it to note that both teams were raised entirely by their coaches, instead of players being bought from other teams.
Momentum:
After two thrilling ace-match finishes, MBCgame are riding high on adrenaline. Will the two-week long break have cooled it off? Conversely, CJ has had a near month to prepare for the finals, sitting atop their perch of first place. Will they be well-prepared? Or just rusty?
Advantage: MBCgame. This team has mood swings. And right now, they are on a high.
Wild Cards:
For CJ, it will be Jy. If Jy plays in the finals, it will be his first appearance this season. Yet he is a skilled and exciting player, a disciple of Savior's 3-hatch macro, and he has beaten Light twice before. If he can bring his best performance to the finals, CJ will have an extra card to deal. After two weeks of hyping JuniToss, this week I say that Shark is Hero's wild card. He surprised everybody in last season's playoffs, beating GoodFriend and Xellos on ZvTs on Cultivation Period. If Shark can snipe somebody (say Iris or Much), the balance will shift heavily in MBC's favor.
Advantage: CJ. Straight up, Jy is more promising than Shark.
X-Factors:
For CJ, the word "X-Factor" means nothing. This team trains to eliminate all such invariables. That comes from veteran leadership - one of CJ's best assests. Between ForU, Xellos, Oversky, and Rage, CJ has some old heads to lead the younger players (ie Savior, Iris, Jy). That calm and steady presence will no doubt help ease the nerves. MBCgame's X-Factor has always been its mood swings. This is the youngest team in the proleagues, and when they fly, they soar. But when they dip, they crash. If Hero get behind early, it may be hard for them to come back. On the other hand, if they jump the gun, we could be looking at a sweep. Incidentially, both teams have about the equal amount of experience.
Advantage: CJ. On the biggest stage, with all the lights on you, you want a steady presence. CJ has that. Hero does not.
Overall:
This is an incredibly difficult call to make. Both teams are so strong, so balanced, with weapons everywhere. There are a lot of great players involved in this one, and each of the seven matches could be classic.
With that said, I think the veteran leadership and take-no-prisoners attitude of CJ makes the difference in this one. Plus, I simply can't argue against Savior. My heart says Hero, but Savior looms large in my head.
Prediction: CJ ENTUS - but only by a hair. This one is 51:49 in my mind.
Last time they met:
2006 Proleague Term 1 Playoffs
July > Iris on Peaks of Baekdu
Shark > Xellos on New Cultivation Period
Bisu/Saint > Much/Oversky on Full Moon
Pusan < Savior on 815 III
Light < Jy on Rush Hour 3
TheZerg/Sea > Mingu/Rage on Iron Curtain
2006 Proleague Term 2
Shark < Savior on Arcadia II
Bisu < Much on Blitz
910/TheZerg < Rage/Oversky on Vampire
(credit to Hot_Bid for the CJ poster)
