All right, here's what I've noticed from the first twelve minutes of footage...
FrothyOmen
1) Whenever your opponent jumps from a distance (which they have no reason to do unless they don't realize they should just block your Smoke Bomb), it's a free air teleport punish. You get a little damage plus knockdown from that. At the same time, however, you were throwing out a lot of teleports on panic mode, do NOT do that. It's bound to get you blown up.
2) If you anticipate that Cyrax will Wake-Up with his anti-air grab, something I've noticed that
ShadowBeatz does a lot, counter with your standing 2 anti-air leading to a full combo. It's not exactly a solid Wake-Up to use.
3) Using the standing 1 to pressure? I don't know if I approve, I doubt it is very effective...it's better to stick with standing 2 and alternate between variations of the attack string. You were also rushing down a lot with his d3. I'd try following up with d4 instead of trying to get aggressive so you open up the chance for a b2/d4/throw mix-up.
4) Hit-confirm, hit-confirm, hit-confirm! Of course, as this is online, it might be tough to do, but still. Smoke's b2 3 is a good hit-confirm opportunity. If you see it hit, follow with the Smoke Bomb; if blocked, Smoke Away, but NEVER do a Smoke Bomb on block. Not only is it unsafe, but even if it goes unpunished, you'll be struggling to get out of pressure.
5) If caught in a 2 1 Net from Cyrax, unless he goes for unbreakable damage, wait for him to spend one bar of meter when he tries to complete the combo leading to his reset, and THEN break. That way, you make him trade one bar of meter for two rather than not trade at all. Fuck with Cyrax's meter game as best you can.
ShadowBeatz
1) There were a couple of instances where you could have won a round at an earlier point using unbreakable damage, like in the second match for example. I think you caught on to this after that happened, but all the same, always watch for opportunities.
2) After you nail a command grab, ALWAYS do a jump-in punch for a free mix-up consisting of either a command grab or 2 1 pressure. Hit-confirm to net if you see it land.
3) Sometimes you don't always have to follow with the throw after landing a Donkey Kick. Something I've often see
Krayzie do after that attack is forget about the follow-up throw and go for a bomb set-up instead.
4) Polish up your combo enders. When ending an anti-air combo with a net, you should teleport, cross-up just as he bursts free from the net, and initiate pressure again. I'd also like to see you cancelling your pokes into Cyrax's Buzzsaw, as it eliminates counter-poke attempts.
That's all I can think of for now. I'll keep watching and add as necessary.
EDIT: Also Frothy, you should consider practicing the concept of cancelling Smoke's pokes into his Smoke Towards/Away. I've started doing this recently and am pleased with how effective it's been.
