LAG nicx: "Experative calls unlike any other caller I've played with"

LAG ultimately won Fragadelphia CS/DO in a stunning fashion, besting G3 is a thrilling 2-1 that really pushed both teams to their limits. This is especially true for LAG's most recent addition Nick "nicx" Lee, who has tasted LAN success for the first time with the European majority-squad.

Ahead of the finals, nicx sat down with Dust2.us' Jeffrey "Mnmzzz" Moore to discuss their win in semifinals, joining LAG, the team's start to ECL, and playing for the ill-fated Bad News Bears roster, among other topics.

Please note that the full interview can be found below on YouTube, while the transcript has some key snippets from their conversation.

To start, how are you feeling about your semifinals match against my life be like, and how are you feeling about the upcoming finals?

The semifinals went pretty well, map one was too close for comfort but the second map was pretty easy. We don't know who we will play next, whether it's going to be G3 or Xiaoma. We want to play Xiaoma more but I don't think it really matters. Either one we're pretty comfortable with playing.

Why do you want to play Xiaoma more?

Xiaoma is an easier opponent in general. G3 has a lot more randomness to them that is unpredictable so Xiaoma is a much easier team to pick apart.

You came into this squad after they qualified to ESL Challenger League. How did you find your way onto LAG as a replacement for X-23?

I didn't know anyone on this team. I was in a pistol DM with based and he just added me. He knew I was LFT and we talked about it, with me trying out for them along with a couple other teams. I knew I wanted to play with LAG because the team environment just from the practice was one of the best I have ever played in.

It was a go-to for me [to join LAG]. They also wanted to pick me up after the first practice.

What's it like working with this European core of players, has it given you a new insight into the game?

For sure, Experative calls unlike any other caller I've played with before and I don't know if it is unique to the region, but it's unique to me. It's solid calling that I am enjoying the most and I'm also playing the best under, so it's fun playing well. We're winning as a team as well and that's the most important.

In ECL S47 your squad is 4-2 and are in first place. While it is still very early days, how are you feeling about your chances of making playoffs?

We feel pretty good. In ECL it is the top six teams versus everyone else. M80 and those teams are going to be trading maps against each other and the [rest of the league] is about who can 2-0 each other.

It's top ten makes playoffs so it is not super exclusive and it's a really fine line between relegation and playoffs, but I think we can do it. We got a good start to the season, while we could've had a better but we have the potential to upset some of the bigger teams. I like our chances.

Do you view LAG as part of that "top six" or are you part of the "everyone else" group in ECL?

Right now we're in the "others" category, we haven't proven ourselves against PA, Wildcard, M80, etc, those salaried teams that have a lot of European experience. We have European experience but we don't have European LAN experience.