Harden isn't taking what the defense is giving (a mid range shot) and instead is doing exactly what the Jazz want to drive to do and drive.
What about the trailing defender who is going to have a pretty easy look at a block from behind if he pulls up for the midrange? Taking it all the way to the basket is avoiding the trailing defender.
I don't even really blame Harden. Nobody played him like this during the season so he didn't need to adjust. It's the culture Morey has installed and D'antoni's refusal to maybe take Harden aside and say, its ok to shoot that free throw line jumper you used to take every play for literally years while Mchale was coach.
I think he is criticized to an unfair level, and clearly the overall media and casual nba fans are biased against him. It is undoubtably true that he has more awful playoff games than other stars. Sad but true.
Harden shot 37% in this series.. that ain't gonna cut it against the Warriors. For all the praise he's gotten during the regular season, Harden still has many holes in his game offensively.