The European League Championship Series Regional Qualifier, also known as the Gauntlet, has seen teams rise up to the occasion on the way to an otherwise inaccessible World Championship berth (look no further than North Americas Cloud9 in 2015) or to a momentous performance (Origens semifinal placement). As the two aforementioned squads showed, the last-chance qualifier can be a thrilling experience.As we explore the 2016 European Regional tournament, we can only note that the same may be happening all over again. Returning this year are Unicorns of Loves Fabian Sheepy Mallant, Kiss Vizicsacsi Tamas and Zdravets Hylissang Iliev Galabov, as well as then-ROCCAT head coach Jakob YamatoCannon Mebdi, now the coach of Splyce.Splyce and the Unicorns of Love are not alone; Fnatic and Giants Gaming are also part of the festivities. How do the participants fare? And what would be their saving grace if their chances are low?Giants Gamings odds: Winning the lotto three times in a rowWhen Giants were a functional crew, they dodged their laning phase shortcomings and systematically swapped lanes to occupy half of their opponents jungle, allowing them to capitalize on pick opportunities. That is, unless Lennart Smittyj Warkus or Na NighT Gun-woo spiraled out of control following a gank from their jungler, Nubar Maxlore Sarafian.Were because they have devolved from the group that had had a surprising showing during the season to overaggressive (or downright desperate) playmakers during the playoffs, but matters may have turned beyond sour for the Spanish organization, at least according to a recent tweet from the squads head coach, David LoZarK Alonso Vicente.Regarding all this soap drama: we are having internal problems within the group leading us to not scrimming these days.— David Alonso Vicente (@Lozarklol) September 1, 2016Giants had an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of other teams during the playoffs, but team chemistry issues may lead to roster changes - a matter that would preoccupy the organization more than their chances of making it past the Unicorns of Love.Can an individual win the lotto reliably three times in a row? Possible, but very unlikely.Unicorns of Loves odds: The New York Knicks chances at going beyond the first round of the playoffs in 2016-2017One might think the Knicks? Making the playoffs? but theres a little more hope around the team considering their offseason moves, and a few more bench hires would solidify its status as a potential playoff team, bar injuries and chemistry issues. As such, I would say that the Unicorns of Loves chances at reaching the World Championships group stages are fair on paper.UoL has had one of the biggest surges in terms of power level since the release of the playoff patch, allowing new hires and veterans to showcase their abilities more reliably. Kiss Vizicsacsi Tamas remains a pillar within the squad, and protecting him would be a primary key for Kang Move Min-su. Fabian Exileh Schubert has also displayed improvement over the season, culminating in a lights-out showing against Fnatic in the playoff quarterfinals.However, the deck may be stacked against UoL considering the lack of practice partners as Fnatic and Splyce canceled scrimmages against them. As Fnatic and Splyce currently withhold their decks in hand, the Unicorns may have to blindly all-in (although they currently carry the equivalent of a queen pair in hand). Their understanding of the meta and their ability to play accordingly has already allowed them to surprise G2 Esports and H2K Gaming despite 3-1 defeats.Fnatics odds: The same as the Miracle on Ice (or Cloud9s reverse-sweep run) happening ever againFnatic are in a desperate situation. Not only have they missed the auto-qualification scenarios of old, they had fallen from grace, away from the top of the LCS, with their dismantling at the hands of H2K Gaming standing as a potential beginning of the end for Fabian Febiven Diepstraten and his teammates. Without the ability to open the map and stall long enough in the bottom lane to survive during the laning phase or pull ahead through ganks, they seemed listless, a shell of glories past.Without perfect team chemistry, Fnatic may falter against the Unicorns of Love, who will be meeting them in the gauntlet semifinals lest Giants somehow manage to upset fate, distort the boundaries of time and space, and bend them to their will to avert UoLs impending victory.But they have an unlikely ally in their quest for a deeper gauntlet run: LCS summer finalists Splyce. Will Mateusz Kikis Szkudlarek morph into something greater than Martin Wunder Hansen? Will Lee Spirit Da-yoon make the right early-game calls and allow Bora YellOwStaR Kim to dictate the shots for the remainder of the game? Will YellOwStaR himself recapture his 2015 shape? Too many parameters, especially against Splyce (or against the decisive Unicorns of Love).Splyces odds at NOT making it: You rolling nat20 five times in a row, right now.Far-fetched, isnt it? But this is Splyces position. As the last team to enter the gauntlet, they have the luxury to observe the hand their opponents play, and how they play them. In addition, their team play has been consistently better than all teams not named G2 Esports this summer. The sole team with more chances to upset Splyce (other than Kikis and Spirit turning into Huni and Reignover) is UoL, who have no scrimmages planned against them.Of course, their record against UoL during the regular season (1W-2L, lets omit the Sion support game) may have been a cause for concern had the meta not evolved, but the meta did, in fact, evolve. With lane matchups becoming more important, they can create advantageous situations during the draft for their solo laners, with Exilehs champion pool posing a problem.By the way, if you did roll five nat20s in a row, I would require proof, if only for fun. Cody Ford Womens Jersey . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Jordan Poyer Jersey . 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WALTHAM, Mass. -- Boston Celtics big man Al Horford,?responding to criticism for missing Monday nights game in?Miami after the birth of his second child, said Tuesday that he felt it was important to be there for his family.My familys very important to me, said Horford, who welcomed daughter Alia on Sunday. Im in more of a unique situation because this is our first year [in Boston] and my wife, we all moved in the middle of the pregnancy. And [there is] a lot going on. So I just felt like it was important for me to really be there, supporting her. And we have a son as well. So for her, its been a lot thrown at her these past few months.I know that it meant a lot for me to be there with her. ... So Im just very happy that the Celtics really take the time and they consider us not only as players but as people. And people that have families.Horford signed a four-year, $113 million contract this summer and had already missed nine games this season due to a concussion.?When the Celtics announced Monday morning that he would sit out, some fans grumbled on social media. The criticism seemed to diminish when the reason for Horfords absence was revealed.After the game -- a 112-104 victory -- Horfords decision was questioned during a segment on Comcast SportsNet, the broadcast home of the Celtics. Horfords sister, Anna, active on social media, responded swiftly to the criticism.Horford spent nearly all of his five-minute session with reporters Tuesday responding to the fallout.I dont really read into [the criticism]. I dont read Twitter and stuff, and the radio and all that, Horford said. I just kind of focus on the court, on my job here, and then, off the court, on my family.Everyboody has their opinion.dddddddddddd I respect anything that anybody has to say. I care a lot about the group and our guys. For my familys sake, it was important for me to be there for them. Just with our transition and everything. So thats that. Now I can put that behind me and get focused again on [Wednesdays game against the Pistons].Horford was the third player in the past six months whom the Celtics allowed to miss games for newborns (Jonas Jerebko and Avery Bradley?each welcomed children earlier in the calendar year).Coach Brad Stevens has stressed that family comes before all else for members of the organization.I think our greatest responsibilities are as sons, husbands, fathers. I think thats your No. 1 job, Stevens said. Were thrilled for the Horfords and were thrilled to have Al back at practice [Tuesday] and be ready to go [Wednesday]. Obviously, family is really important.Horford said his teammates were nothing but supportive before and after Mondays game.Added Horford: I was able to watch and I was just very proud with our guys, how they responded. I feel like in our short season already we havent been fully available, all of us, through all the games. Its just impressive to see a guy like Isaiah [Thomas] not making any excuses. And the list goes on. Not only Isaiah. All the other guys, but everybody just making sure they go in and they put in the work. And they dont make excuses.Horford reported that mother and baby are doing well.Everybodys healthy. That was the most important thing, Horford said. And [Alia has] been great so far. ' ' '