Right? It's so easy to forget that a fresh blade can make all the difference. Getting halfway through and realizing that's the problem just makes you want to throw the whole thing in the bin.
Ugh, been there! A dull blade makes everything fight you. For pork belly, I mark my lines with a sharpie and go slow, letting the saw do the work. If it's pulling or leaving a rough edge, that's the first sign to check the blade. I keep a spare blade on hand just for this reason.