G2 Labrov on the LEC's top two: "We're as good as the LCK and LPL teams"
G2 keep rolling. A 2-0 over NAVI moves them to 5-1, a game behind KC at the top of the LEC. RFT.GG caught up with G2 support Labros "Labrov" Papoutsakis after the win to talk about the gap between the top two and the rest, the Perkz effect on their practice, catching up on the meta after MSI, and why he believes this G2 side can win Worlds.
How are you feeling, and what's your take on the way that BO played out?
I'm feeling good. I don't think we played insanely well individually, but our team play was good, so it feels nice — even when we're not at our best, we can manage to win. The game one early game was a bit interesting, let's say. It was an invade, and NAVI were making it very chaotic — level one invading, Shen going top. We got the blue buff, but we misplayed the situation: died, then we tried to one for one and I think died too, so we were playing on the back foot and had to scale. After that we played well; it's just that the early game wasn't the best. In game two we played way more controlled, we had a good early game, and we naturally snowballed from there.
The feeling this year is that you haven't had much real contest in the LEC, but KC have clearly stepped up. Do you feel that rivalry now, or do you think you're still a level above?
I see they're a strong team, and as of right now I feel like we're probably going to meet KC in the final — I already have that feeling. I could be wrong, but I'm just excited to play them. I think they're strong.
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Meanwhile the rest of the LEC looks more homogeneous, with MKOI notably out of form. Does that lack of day-to-day competition worry you when it comes to preparing for international events?
I wouldn't say so, necessarily. The level of the LEC isn't that bad, honestly — with NAVI, GX, Vitality, even Fnatic in scrims are decent. There are a couple of decent teams. It's just that us and KC are a level above
We're as good as the LCK and LPL teams, and that's why it feels like a bit of a gap.
But the rest of the teams aren't that weak, and we're still scrimming them, improving and focusing on ourselves. So no, I wouldn't say it worries me.
Compared to the start of previous splits, you've been sharper as a team in the regular season. How do you explain that — have you changed something in your approach?
Since Perkz joined we changed a lot in the way we practise and treat practice in general, in how we communicate, a lot of things. I'd say that helped for sure. But also we're in good form — we've been playing a lot of top teams from Korea and China, so our individual form is still really good. That's also why we're having a good start to the Summer split.
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Hans said in an interview that one of Perkz's goals was to make you scrim with more productivity — bring back the scrim culture the team might have lost along the way. Do you see it that way?
Yeah. We've been scrimming for around two weeks with Perkz now, and we've already had a lot of talks about how to make our scrims more productive, what we need to change and focus on. Because in the past, it's true, I don't feel like we had the best scrim practice — not because of the other teams, fully because of us. We were focusing on the wrong things, we weren't the most efficient. So we've changed a lot of things and we're looking for ways to improve on everything in the game.
Perkz said himself that he talks to you during scrims. How does that work?
Sometimes he just talks. I remember last time, we'd all based and he said, "Okay guys, just go botlane and dive" — so we went bot, the enemy team aced us and we lost the game. [laughs] But sometimes he shares his ideas. For example, if we'd been talking about or practising one specific thing beforehand, he'll remind us to "do this" and it just clicks in everyone's head.
I think it can be good. It can also be sus. He likes to yap sometimes, so it's somewhere in between.
Photo Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games
Hans also told us that you were a bit slow on the meta reading, and that it cost you at the EWC and against KC. What's your take — do you feel you've caught up?
We’re a bit slow, maybe. But honestly, the meta still wasn't super clear. If anything, at MSI we were only playing AD carries bot; we didn't play a single AP mage, even though Hans is very capable of it. Then at the EWC we started playing them on stage, and it actually looked good. And here in Summer, I feel like the meta still isn't figured out — every team in the world is trying things and working it out. But I think we're more open to picking more champs, practising them and picking them on stage.
On an individual level, what's been your biggest improvement since the start of the season?
When it's a bit of a crazy game — like when I got up top lane in game one — I know how to adapt better now. When that happens, the game naturally becomes a bit of a fiesta, and when I was facing that at the EWC and in scrims I was definitely a bit lost sometimes. Now I'm more aware of those crazy game states.
Earlier this year you said that, compared to last year, you actually feel this team can win Worlds. What makes you say that, and what changed between the two years?
I truly believe it, I'm not coping when I say this. First of all, my confidence: when I joined G2 I didn't feel that confident individually or as a team, and now, after this time has passed
Photo Credit: Sasha Safronova/Riot Games
I really feel like I can be the best support in the world, and we can be the best team in the world.
I've scrimmed and played a few international games and I can see — “oh wait, I'm actually beating these teams, I'm at this level, I can be better”. We made the First Stand final, top four at MSI. I think it's actually possible, and I'll make sure I do my best and give everything I can so that hopefully we make Worlds. Let's not be too cocky, because even in the LEC, if you have a bad week you can lose everything. But I'll really focus on the Summer split, give everything and have no regrets.
Last one, a little prediction game. Playoffs are coming up — and since you're basically in, along with KC, which teams do you see qualifying with you?
Honestly, it's hard to say. I'd like Vitality to qualify — they played well today too, and I'm close with Carzzy, I like their coaches, I think they can do it. I can see MKOI bouncing back once they make playoffs. I could see NAVI, even GX. Honestly, I don't know if Fnatic are done, but we scrimmed them about a week ago and they were actually solid — I felt like, oh, they're actually solid. Same for SK, I think they're solid, even though their record is bad. So it's hard to say — but if I have to give four, maybe Vitality, MKOI, NAVI and GX, and hopefully I can meet my friend Carzzy in the playoffs.
