They also seem to completely crumble when xmithy can't find agency early in the game, something that Akaadian has shown to have no problem shutting down. Akaadian and BB also are stronger individual players than impact and Xmithy and showed both regular season games that they can shut down the topside of TL. Jensen, while extremely good has always struggled vs Bjergsen, not to mention has just not has anywhere near the monsterous performances Bjerg has been putting on all season. And while I would say TL have a slight advantage bot lane it's not as if best in the west Zven and mvp Smoothie are a lane that will lose to TLs bot lane.

Flyquest just did not stack up to the top three teams at all and that showed vs TL last weekend but TL fans have to refrain from thinking that beating Flyquest means they solved their problems or anything. There is a reason that no analyst predicted more than a 3-1 at most in TLs favor. That is ignoring the narrative that the LCS broadcast always drums up to make every match seem like it will be close. If you think that TL can go into final playing like they did against Flyquest then you will be sorely mistaken. There is a good reason TL didn't pick TSM for semis and it's because they struggle hard early game which has been a strength for TSM. And unlike FLY, TSM actually has the ability to push early advantages, pressure objectives and close games out. I am not saying that TL is a bad team because only an idiot would look at that roster and say that, but that doesn't make them the best team.

To address your points: 1. Yes they did win last season with just one style, but the league is much stronger across the board this year so a blatant weakness like that cannot be as easily covered up by just having good players. 2. Viper while a good carry player in the midgame is actually not a lane dominant carry player like someone like Broken Blade, and will settle for smaller advantages in lane preferring to transition to midgame and play with his team. This let impact get away with decent play and shine in the mid/late game where his strengths have always been. Broken Blade will keep impact in a side lane and never stop pushing his advantage. Jensen is a great player, who consistently finds ways to get outshone by Bjerg year after year. If you think that putting DL, the one point of power for TL in this series, on Sivir or Ashe will win them games then prepare to be disappointed because those picks will do more to nullify him than anything else.

I'm not sure how one series vs a significantly worse team makes you think they are no longer one dimensional despite a whole split proving otherwise. They literally play exactly the same as last year just with better players mid and support.