This is it, the start of the season. Week 1. After this week, 8 teams will be undefeated while 8 will be winless. This match will set how the start of your season will look. But it by no means is an end all for the entirety. Just ask Natural. Who started off last season going 0-6 in his first match and ended up winning it all. The season is long, longer than last season even. You only have a few teams to beat to go to playoffs, but every game counts. You don't want to be the coach that throws away games for stupid reasons like Forfeits.
In just a few months, we'll be crowning the next Champion of the RDL. Will it be Michael again? One of the other Veteran coaches? One of the New coaches? It all starts today. What will you do to cement your place in RDL history?
Week 1, Divisional matches. These first three weeks matter more than most other games. I would rather lose 4 games in the middle of the season than drop even one of these first three or the three later in the season. These are who you're up against for playoffs.
Kanto Matchups:
Akron Alakazams V Atlanta Rowlets.
Strength versus strength. Atlanta definitely has some speed breakers in this match up, but if they can't provide the sweep it's looking like a hard uphill battle. I don't think the Rowlets have a good answer to Volcanion or Zygarde 50. Florges and Mamoswine are the best against Zy50 but even then it could be a hard breaker.
Our analysts, Rich, LCPlayz, and TheNatural91, all agree with who they think will win. And I find it hard to disagree with them. For Atlanta to get the W, it's Akron's game to lose.
Key Pokemon in the Matchup: Volcanion for the Alakazams and Jolteon for the Rowlets.
Brooklyn Bulbasaurs V Detroit Dracos
This match up has potential to be extremely one sided. The Dracos' best chance at winning is with Hydreigon and Celesteela. Brooklyn's lack of strong STAB strong against those might set up the win.
The analysts and I also agree here 4-0 for Brooklyn winning this week. But I could see this going the other direction if Seamus can take out Santoro's wall breakers.
Key Pokemon in the Matchup: Darmanitan for the Bulbasaurs can break down Celesteela easily, and Celesteela for the Dracos if it can set itself up to tank, Seamus can pull it off.
Hoenn Matchups:
Rochester Roggenrolas V Kansas City Kingdras
This is probably my biggest pick for a 5-0/6-0 sweep. To put it plainly, the things that the Rogs struggle against, the Kingdras are good at. Whereas, the things that the Kingdras struggle against, just aren't present in the Rogs list. This is probably going to be one of the hardest matchups for the Roggenrolas all season probably.
This all being said, LCPlayz believes they can pull it off. Rich, Michael, and I all say it goes to KCK.
Key Pokemon in the Matchup: Mew's versatility should be one of the biggest focal points in both teams practice for the week. Comparable, Silvally can cause a lot of issues to the Rogs with its potential typings.
Kennesaw Noctowls V East Sea Gastrodons
In contrast to the previous match, I feel like this one might end up very close. I don't feel like a long sweep is in the books for either team. Both teams have to be careful about their switches and predictions or this game could sway back and forth rapidly.
Same with the other Hoenn Match, LCPlayz believes the Gastrodons will be victorious, while Rich, Micahel, and I lean the other direction, putting the Nocts on top.
Key Pokemon in the Matchup: M-Gardevoir for the Noctowls can sweep most of the field if played correctly. Whereas M-Venusaur can tank mostly everything else except for Gardevoir, but with the right predictions he won't have to.
Johto Matchups:
Ohio Ninetales V New York Klinks
The champion versus the newbie. Obviously, everyone knows how weak the Klinks are to ground and knows their ways around it. With plenty of the Ninetales having access to Earthquake I don't know how easy it will be to work around it. All Michael needs to do is break Bulu out to win easily. As if that's the easiest thing in the world to do.
All of the analysts and myself agree that Ohio should win this one, but it is a defensive game for the Klinks.
Key Pokemon in the Matchup: Metagross has the ability to get super-effective moves on most of if not every mon on the Klinks. Bulu, keep it alive and you've got a chance.
Indianapolis Ponytas V Detroit Lairons
A mostly immovable object meets a seriously immovable object. Who wins? As I stated earlier with the Roggenrolas, this match against the Ponytas might be one of the ones that the Lairons match up against the worst. Can they out bulk the Ponytas while living through things like M-Charizard X?
LCPlayz once again going against the grain and picking the Lairons to win, while the rest of us are picking the Ponytas.
Key Pokemon in the Matchup: Tapu Fini, the Misty Terrain will prevent a lot of the stall from happening, but Ferrothorn covers the weaknesses Fini brings. M-Sableye can be the hardest stall in the entire match up.
Alola Matchups:
Los Angeles Charjabugs V Galesburg Gliscors
The most offensive team in the league versus one of the more defensive teams. Tapu Koko matches up really well against the Gliscors being able to sweep if needed. But the Gliscors could bring some sneaky play to take them out. If the Charjas can't get their early lead, it'll be difficult to close it out.
All of our analysts and myself all agree with the Charjabugs being able to finalize this match up. But it definitely isn't an easy matchup for them
Key Pokemon in the Matchup: Tapu Koko, The Electric Terrain and personal strength are a huge threat. M-Latios can bring super-effective moves against most of the Charjabugs at any time. Just knowing which things give them the lead will be the Gliscors planning.
Chicago Tauros V Michigan Magcargos
This is one of the matchups I like best this week. I could easily see either team winning, but I don't see it being a super close game. I'm talking 3/4/5-0 potentially, but that could go either way. The things that both teams struggle against, the other team is good at.
In a first and (Spoiler) only non-agreement from Rich and Michael, Rich picked Michigan to win, where as LCP, Michael, and myself all pick Chicago to clean house.
Key Pokemon in the Matchup: Ninetales-Alola, if an Aurora Veil gets up, it'll be an uphill battle for Michigan, let alone the STAB super-effectiveness against Conkeldurr and Hippowdon. M-Abomasnow is one of the big pieces for the Magcargos. With Landorus, M-Latias, Zapdos, and Virizion all being weak to Ice, Winter is Coming.
Good luck Coaches. Here's to an amazing season.
No comments:
Post a Comment