"I don't think any single game is a free win anymore" — Labrov reflects on G2's Spring start
G2 are off to another slow start. A 2-0 win over SK puts them at 2-2 on the Spring split — nothing new for a team that has made shaky regular seasons and sharp playoff runs almost a routine. The final week in Madrid will still be decisive before playoffs. Lampros "Labrov" Papoutsakis sat down with RFT.GG right after the series, talking about G2's inconsistent start, the pressure that came with replacing Mikyx last year, his individual peak at First Stand, and where he ranks the world's best supports.
How are you feeling?
Feeling all right. Obviously not the cleanest games, and there's for sure something to look up to. For example, Game 1, I don't think we were so ahead — I don't think you should go to 40 minutes. And Game 2 was for sure messy. Obviously, I'm happy we managed to win, but there's for sure a lot of things to take away and do better for next games.
Since you're 2-2 right now, the last week of competition in Madrid will be the most important for you — you'll play the top four from the LEC. Do you view that scheduling as a positive in general ?
Yeah, the last week is for sure going to be very important, considering we didn't have the best start and we've been looking a little bit shaky overall. So it will be really important to .
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We just need to take it step by step. But we've done it in the past, andI think we can do it again.
It feels like, G2 is playing a bit more loose in the regular season in general — limit testing, finding what's meta. Do you think that's why you guys tend to underperform in the regular season ?
I don't think we have a specific issue. To be honest, I just remember some of last split — for example, we had a game where we played Lee Sin Top.
I feel like since the meta changes, I don't feel like anyone really knows what the best meta is; every team has their own read. But overall, I feel like we're just ramping up throughout the regular season — our play and everything. So no specific reason. We also had a break, and the meta changed a little bit since last split, so all these things combined.
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When I look back at LEC Versus and First Stand, you were very consistent in the early game. It feels like since we got back to the LEC, it's been harder. How do you explain it ?
We're just not playing as good, individually for sure and as a team. Some of it could be the meta. I also think the other LEC teams have been looking better so far. I don't think any single game is a free win anymore. I'm not exactly sure, but I don't think there's one specific reason.
At the start with G2 you were a bit of a scapegoat for G2 underperforming — some fans didn't understand why you were chosen over Mikyx. How did you deal with that situation at the start, and do you think it affected your performances back then?
Yeah, for sure. When I joined G2 early last year, I was for sure feeling the pressure. I was not playing well, I had really bad games, and I could just feel like I was not being myself. After some months now with G2, I think I haven't been feeling that. It feels really nice. I think it also helps getting used to new teammates, a new environment — a lot of things are different here compared to my last team: every day, the people, the happiness, everything. I also got more experience handling these kinds of situations.
Photo Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games
The fact that you stayed in G2 for another year — do you feel way less pressure because you're in the best team anyway?
Yeah, a little bit. We had a good worlds run, and now at First Stand.
I think we know we can be really good — we just need to be more consistent.
Consistency is something we've been struggling with. But honestly, every team goes through those cycles. Even right now, Gen.G is struggling, T1 — all these really good teams. HLE, for example, they were last place one split and top two the next. A lot of teams go through these cycles, and it can also be exciting in a way — you can learn new things, new concepts.
I also heard Carzzy in an interview say that he always knew you had the talent, but that in the past you tended to choke in the important matches. Do you agree with that ?
Yeah, for sure. I think how I'm feeling individually now, my knowledge and stuff — if I could go back in time four years ago, I think I would be the best player in the league by far. I was not handling pressure well, I was not practicing well enough to feel good on stage.
My mindset changed, my game knowledge too — I learned so many things.
And does the chewing gum help you deal with stress as well?
I'm not sure. I feel like it just helps me focus more, and maybe gain some more energy.
Looking back at First Stand, it really looked like you guys peaked. Do you feel the same way, that you played the best League of Legends you've ever played in Brazil ?
I had some really good series. But last year in summer, I was playing really well too, when we were winning a lot. So I don't know if I peaked. You could probably say I showed up against really good teams. In that sense, you could argue that I peaked. But I remember a series when I was in BDS, against Vitality in a Bo5 — I think I would actually say that was the best series of my life. I felt like I was legit 1v9 in that series. I just hope I can keep this consistency going.
I saw you praising ON a lot at First Stand. Would you say he's the best in the world right now? And can you give me one specific thing you learned from playing against him?
Even without losing to BLG, him and Keria are obviously the two best supports in the world.
I was having this belief even two years ago — I was watching some ON VODs and feeling like he was outstanding compared to other supports. He was doing things no one else was doing. I really like watching him and playing against him.
Photo Credit: Riot Games
Considering T1 is not at the peak right now, I would say at First Stand he's for sure the best in the world. I think Keria and him are close for sure. What he does very well is the fact that he always pressures really well without dying. He's annoying in the enemy jungle, he's really good mechanically, has a good laning phase, a deep champion pool...
Caliste and Busio are definitely good. But I'm confident me and Hans can beat them, and we will hopefully play some games against them in playoffs. It was a fun final last time. They're strong for sure.
Photo by Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games.
You think they're the strongest besides you and Hans?
In the LEC, probably, yeah.
You'll face your former team, Shifters in two days. I guess you saw their journey since you left. As someone who's been in that team and environment for a long time, how do you view their struggles since the "core" left?
In any team, once you start losing, the pressure can really get into you. It feels like nothing is working, there are so many problems. Even for us, for example, when we came back, we didn't win a single scrim — we were actually struggling a lot. Now we're starting to do better. Everything just feels like it's collapsing, and it's hard to get out of that loop, out of that black hole. But I think they can do it, they just need to stay strong mentally.
You mentioned earlier this idea that teams go through cycles, good splits and bad splits. Do you think Shifters are in that kind of cycle right now ?
Maybe, they could be a team like HLE that has good players and then finishes last — not quite at that level, but as an example. I'm not sure. Even G2, we barely made playoffs last split, and we ended up winning the split. It's hard to say.
