Green76--removing leaves near/few days before harvest is really a personal choice. If the plant is mature, slowly, removing leaves is not going to flip the plant or cause big issues. It would if done early on. The leaves are the sugar factory. So, naturally, as the plant drinks just water it will begin to expend its energy and in the end will have plenty of reserve--even after two weeks. It would take many weeks for the plant to expire and it would use up all its internal resources.
I may have mentioned such in response to a thread. Someone was interested in removing leaves towards the end of flowering.
During the last week--if a plant is leaf heavy--I will begin removing big old fan leaves. Then a day or so before a 24 hour dark period (do this because of low RH and gives plant some pre-harvest live curing time) begin removing as many leaves as possible--by hand--excepting bud leaves. In fact, one of the major seed breeders out of the Netherlands recommends several days of dark. If I lived in a better environment probably would not need a dark period.
I might also mention that the buds do need light. They also have leaves that photosynthesize and nourish the flowers--in addition, to protecting and defending itself from predators. Rosenthal the leading cannabis expert--constantly reminds readers in his books to get light to the buds.
Here is a HT article--the author mentions removal of fans towards end of flush.
http://www.hightimes.com/read/key-points-harvest-time