Division B East Preview
By Hoku
There will be some rivalries carrying over from previous seasons (I see you Frank’s Furters and Heavy Greg!), and without a doubt, some new ones will be forged. Here are our competitors for this season of NGS:
Braincellmates – As a new team two seasons ago, they spent time developing synergy and adjusting their lineup. With a few new faces this season, and a solid veteran core, they are heading to B East.
CM Daybreak – This is a team with a long history in Divs C and B. Last season saw them in B East, winning the first round of the playoffs as the underdog. Will they go further this time around?
Daddy Shams Cat Lounge – While the name is new, the team has been around for many seasons. As B East veterans, we can expect to see them in strong competition once again.
Frank’s Furters – Our first team moving on up, to the East side (sorry, couldn’t resist) from Division C, this is a team that played for many seasons. Having made it to the C finals, they are ready for a new challenge.
FUNdamentals – A brand new team, these folks are here to put the FUN in … um … fundamentals. While several members of the team have many seasons of NGS experience, for several, this will be their rookie year. Let’s welcome them to NGS, and Div B East!
Ground Up – Having had their startup last season, this team returns to B East with their roster unchanged. While they lost in the first round of the playoffs, they look to moving up the rankings, now that they have some experience behind them.
Heavy Greg – As last season’s Division C champion, this is our second team to gain a promotion up to B East. Having been a Div C stalwart since Season 14, it is time to bring their shenanigans up a notch. BAM!
Hot(s) Dads – This is another one of our veteran B East teams, returning for another go around. They made it to the finals last season, in spite of being an underdog in every round. Can they repeat that success?
La Fine Équipe – A new team last season, they made a few changes to their roster, and will be facing opponents in B East for the first time.
Protectors of Aiur – This is a team with a long history in NGS, always in either B or C. They have a large, stable roster, and can throw many different looks out on the battlefield, depending on who is in any given match.
Start Slow Then Taper Off – This is another experienced team with a large roster, who has climbed up the ranks over the years. This season welcomes them back to Division B.
Week 1 Preview
All of the teams will be starting fresh, and every match will be a testing ground for new lineups, strategies, and map picks. It is hard to tell how much will be sorted out this early, but usually the first week of the season doesn’t give away too much on how the latter half will play out. Teams tend to be fairly conservative, sticking with meta picks and bans (outside of well known target bans), so while one can always hope for a Cho’gall, I expect we won’t see shenanigans just yet.
Week 1 Game to Watch
Division B East will be kicking off the season with a matchup between Daddy Shams Cat Lounge and Ground Up. Both teams have had previous experience, so will likely be going in with a game plan in mind. Start your NGS off by watching all the action, casted by Tokeybee, live on Wednesday, February 12, 8:00 pm EST at https://www.twitch.tv/Tokeybee!